Honne and tatemae

[Klaralven]

In Japan, honne are a person's true feelings and desires (本音, hon'ne, "true sound" ), and tatemae are the behavior and opinions one displays in public (建前, tatemae, "built in front", "façade" ). This distinction began to be made in the post-war era.

Honne may be contrary to what is expected by society or what is required according to one's position and circumstances, and they are often kept hidden, except with one's closest friends. Tatemae is what is expected by society and required according to one's position and circumstances, and these may or may not match one's honne. In many cases tatemae leads to outright telling of lies in order to avoid exposing the true inward feelings.

The honne–tatemae divide is considered by some to be of paramount importance in Japanese culture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honne_and_tatemae

And of increasing importance in the US as well.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Can you say more about how this is important in the US?

Interesting topic.

[Klaralven]

3. The concept may explain the growing mismatch between polling results and voting results

[Irish_Dem]

4. Very interesting theory. I have long wondered about the discrepancy.

Last edited Sat Apr 24, 2021, 12:48 PM - Edit history (1)

I chalked it up to rigged elections, but yes it could be a desire to present a more acceptable response.

ETA: Typically exit polls lean Dem even when a Repug wins.

[betsuni]

2. There was a moronic hysteria from certain people when Hillary Clinton said

that politicians have public (tatemae) and private (honne) opinions. EVERYBODY DOES.

Oh, and those were leaked emails (honne) which the media had no problem putting out there in public, which they never do with Republicans.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Humans are hard wired to maintain social groups, and the brain's social communication filter assists

The brain's social filter helps humans stay in good standing within their social groups.

The brain filter is located in the prefrontal cortex.

Honee and tatemae shows the ways in which the filter can work.
Especially in a country which highly values the group over individualism.