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Does any of you recognize this tendency of being formal to deal with social requirements in relation to being independent?
The "upper crust" relies heavily upon scripted behavior that is highly formalistic. This is because they have much at risk if they are seen as uncouth or even gauche.
There was a comedy film called, "New Leaf" where Walter Matthau is describing his romantic prospects to an uncle by saying, "I can engage in any romantic activity with an urbanity borne of disinterest".