Impoliteness and Verbal Conflict in the American Candid Camera Show “What Would You Do”

The studies on impoliteness phenomenon are still few. Impoliteness in the social interactions of this modern era is highly unavoidable. The present study investigates the dynamics of impoliteness and verbal conflict through a detailed examination an analyses in the American Candid Camera Show “What Would You Do”. Drawing on theoretical frameworks from Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory (1987) and Culpeper’s model of impoliteness (1996, 2005, 2011), the research analyzes impoliteness strategies that have been employed by the participants and bystanders in response to morally and ethically challenging in staged ethical dilemmas or scenarios. A qualitative method is used, through qualitative methods, the research explores how impoliteness strategies such as bald on record impoliteness (Direct Impoliteness), positive impoliteness, negative impoliteness, Sarcasm or Mock Politeness, and withholding politeness manifest and influence social interactions, conflict dynamics conflict dynamics moral judgments. twenty episodes have purposively been selected and coded based on Culpeper's taxonomy of impoliteness strategies. Results and findings of the study indicate that impoliteness serves not only as a catalyst for conflict escalation, but also serves as a reflective tool for social moral judgments. This study contributes for the purpose of expanding impoliteness theory in YouTube Channel contexts and enhancing understanding of verbal aggression in realistic media setting and its implications in reinforcing and challenging social norms and ethical decision-making.