Politeness theory suggests that people in all cultures have desires to maintain positive and negative aspects of their self-image. Daily interactions can threaten these desires, but social factors like power and distance can influence how much. To reduce these threats, people use politeness strategies. This theory helps explain why people say certain things in conversations, like making requests or giving advice. It also affects how people manage their identity and relationships. There is ongoing debate about whether politeness elements are specific to certain cultures or universal.