Erving Goffman

Definition

Erving Goffman was a Canadian sociologist known for his work on social interaction and the concept of impression management, which refers to the ways individuals attempt to control how they are perceived by others. Goffman's theories highlight the importance of social settings in shaping behavior and how individuals navigate various roles to present themselves favorably in different contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Goffman's work emphasizes that individuals often engage in impression management to influence how others perceive them in social situations.
2. He introduced the concept of 'front stage' and 'back stage' to illustrate the different ways people behave depending on their social environment.
3. Goffman argued that identity is not a fixed attribute but is instead constructed through social interactions and performances.
4. His book 'The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life' is foundational for understanding how people manage their impressions in everyday interactions.
5. Goffman's ideas have been influential across various fields, including sociology, psychology, communication studies, and organizational behavior.

Review Questions

• How does Goffman's concept of front stage and back stage contribute to our understanding of impression management?
  • Goffman's concepts of front stage and back stage highlight how individuals adapt their behavior based on social contexts. In the front stage, people perform roles aligned with societal expectations, carefully managing their impressions. In contrast, the back stage allows individuals to relax and express their true selves, revealing the distinction between public persona and private identity. This framework deepens our understanding of how impression management operates in different environments.
• Discuss the implications of Goffman's dramaturgical analysis for workplace dynamics and organizational culture.
  • Goffman's dramaturgical analysis implies that employees navigate their workplace interactions like actors performing on a stage. They manage their impressions carefully to align with organizational norms and expectations. This perspective sheds light on how office culture is shaped by individual performances, revealing both the pressures employees face to conform and the strategies they use to negotiate their identities within a corporate setting.
• Evaluate how Goffman's theories on impression management can inform contemporary discussions about online identity and social media behavior.
  • Goffman's theories on impression management are highly relevant in today’s digital age, where online identities are crafted similarly to performances. Social media platforms provide users with a front stage to curate their images while often concealing the complexities of their back stage lives. This raises critical discussions about authenticity, self-presentation, and the pressure to maintain favorable impressions online. Evaluating these dynamics reveals how Goffman's insights can explain the paradoxes of connection and isolation in our digitally mediated social interactions.

Related terms

Front Stage: The public space where individuals perform their roles and present themselves according to social norms and expectations.

Back Stage: The private space where individuals can relax and be themselves, away from the scrutiny of others, allowing for a more authentic self-presentation.

Dramaturgical Analysis: A sociological perspective that views social interactions as performances, where individuals manage their impressions much like actors on a stage.