Psychology of the Front Seat

The three of us walked out to the van. I opened the front door and the side door. The van is configured to hold 7 with me, so three is a comfort number most used for the seniors at the residence. I stood and waited for the two to make it through the exit doors and stand next to the van. One looked at the other; I looked at one then the other; we looked at the front seat and the discussion began. 

“It’s ok, you can sit up front” 

“Oh no, please take it, I can take the back seat – no problem” 

“it’s ok, really, the front is easier for you”

“ooh no, I insist” 

(see the parallel here to the chipmunks on Walt Disney cartoons?). 

 Finally after some time I had to pipe up and mention that we had better go and selected the lady standing closest to the front to sit in the front. The other was already seated behind her and off we finally went! That front seat means “not as crippled”, “not as old”, “able to bend the knees”, “closest to Paul”, “first one to get out” and so on and so on. The front seat has a status and is as important as the reason for the trip. In many cases I choose but in many ways I let the resident make his or her choice – it is all about respect in the end.