Masks and air rage: a qualitative content analysis using an interaction ritual framework.
Brian O'Hara1, Helle Sorensen2
1Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO USA.
SN Social Sciences
|December 5, 2022
Summary
Air rage incidents surged during the pandemic, particularly after mask mandates. This study analyzes mask-related air rage using an interaction ritual framework to understand the causes of passenger violence.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Aviation Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Significant increase in unruly airline passenger incidents reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Pre-pandemic yearly average of incidents was approximately 100, escalating to 5,981 in 2021, coinciding with mask mandates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a qualitative content analysis of mask-related air rage incidents.
- To apply an interaction ritual (IR) framework for sociological insight into this phenomenon.
- To explore the reasons behind violent passenger reactions associated with mask-wearing on airplanes.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative content analysis of reported mask-related air rage incidents.
- Application of the interaction ritual (IR) framework to analyze the collected data.
Main Results:
- Identification of patterns and themes in mask-related air rage incidents.
- Sociological insights derived from the interaction ritual framework regarding passenger behavior.
Conclusions:
- The study contributes novel research to the under-explored area of mask-related air rage.
- Findings aim to enhance understanding of the social dynamics contributing to passenger aggression on aircraft.
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