Communication and Social Hierarchy: Their Relationship and Interconnection

What type of communication is most likely to confuse or break down the social hierarchy? The objective of this research is to explore the interplay between communication and social hierarchies through understanding the characteristics of different forms of media and how they impact how hierarchy is maintained, broken down, and manifested. Data were collected in 2015 through twenty-two in-person interviews and written exercises with professors, students, employers, and employees, and observations of student-professor and employer-employee events. Through employing these methods, I found that initiating an interaction requires a conscious decision about which medium is best suited for that particular communication based on the recipient, the situation, the content of the communication, and most importantly, the relationship with the recipient. I ultimately conclude that written communication is more likely to confuse the social hierarchy, whereas oral communication is more likely to break down the hierarchy. Both forms show a very clear relationship between social hierarchy and communication.