Face-Negotiation Theory (FNT) was developed by Stella Ting-Toomey to explain how people negotiate their public self-image, or "face", differently in individualistic versus collectivistic cultures. FNT posits that individualistic cultures prefer self-oriented facework while collectivistic cultures prefer other-oriented facework. FNT also identifies four types of facework - face-restoration, face-saving, face-giving, and face-assertion - and states that the approach to conflict management is influenced by a culture's views on face and roles.

1. Face Negotiation TheoryTeaching Practice 1: COMS 620Jenny A. Armentrout

2. Development of FNTFace - Negotiation Theory (FNT) was developed by Stella Ting-Toomey (1985), a communication professor at California State University, Fullerton“Face” according to sociologist Erving Goffman (1967, p. 5), is “the positive social value a person effectively claims for her/himself by the line others assume s/he has taken during a particular contact.”

3. Face-workFace is a metaphor for the image of oneself that we want others to see and believe.Every culture is always negotiating face.FNT states that people from individualistic, low context cultures interact differently from collectivistic, high context cultures.

4. High/Low Context Cultures

5. FNT: Practical Conflict ManagementThe ways which various cultures view face and their individual role in face-work will determine the approach to conflict management.FNT maintains that inter-cultural conflict can be reduced by recognizing, understanding, accepting, and adapting to the differences with another's culture.

6. Four Types of Face-work:Face-restoration - protecting your own autonomy

7. Face-saving - protecting the autonomy of another person

8. Face-giving - protecting another's need for inclusion

9. Face-assertion - protecting your own need for inclusionFace MovementsObliging- accommodating

10. Compromising- bargaining