a curious look at the arrangement of chairs.
by Carrie Bergener
It is odd to think about the arrangement of chairs. Or is it? There is a curiosity in chair placement within various rooms from the family den, the dining room, the corporate boardroom or the executive suite. With a discerning eye and in consideration of this writer’s musings, ponder the arrangement of chairs in multiple venues and relationships and contemplate the sociology of chairs.
One facet within the study of sociology is patterned relationships. For example, within the family den/TV room the ebb and flow of daily relationships often bears homage to the head of the household or, at the very least, the decision maker of what’s on TV. Within these hallowed walls THE RECLINER is the revered best seat for watching TV. Albeit, in current times men and women equally share household responsibility this chair is often still recognized as “Dad’s chair”.
Furthering the “Dad’s chair” concept and the hierarchical structure of relationships, the head of the dining room table is frequently reserved for Dad. This seating arrangement lends great measure to the sociological framework of traditional family groupings and interactions. These days, Dad at the head of the table is giving way to a more logical chair arrangement for convenience, childcare and comfort. The less patriarchal equality of shared responsibilities in current households is evident in seating arrangements at the dining table. Surely, these changing family customs better define the shared roles of parents and interactions of the family as a unit. There is curiosity if these simple chair arrangements influence the individual members interactions within group relationships.
In group settings outside the family unit and associated within the workplace, the authority figure is traditionally at the head of the table for a visual message of power and control. This clear-view arrangement allows the boss to see all in attendance and determine, by facial expression and body language those employees listening to the message – among other judgements. Here, the sociology of this cultural organizational behavior is influenced by chair placement.
Finally, the plush large chair situated behind a foreboding desk defines the authority of the communicator, the direction of communication, and the appropriate pecking order within an organization. This may, perhaps be, one of the most recognizable chair arrangements defining relationships and expected behaviors of a business culture. This seating arrangement not only speaks volumes in terms of establishing authority but is quite shrewd in establishing the chain of command and influencing behavior. The arrangement, once again, defines an aspect Sociology that influences behavior and relationships.
Sociology is a serious science that studies society, patterns of relationships and human culture. It measures how our groupings in family, society and workplaces guide our personal lives. Of course, the study of sociology is extremely more intricate and complex than this simple comment. But it is a marvel to this writer, how much human behavior is exhibited by the simple arrangement of chairs.
