Erving Goffman The Presentation Of Self In Everyday Life Summary

In his work " The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life " the American sociologist Erving Goffman researches the structure and the peculiarities of interpersonal interactions. In the chapter “Belief in the Part One Is Playing” he proposed some of these core ideas. Goffman compares the interactions one has with oneself and the external world (other actors) with the theatre. He believes that each person plays a role in the interaction with his or her counterpart (also more than one possible). One practices these roles on the backstage, where one is not seen by the counterpart. It is then presented on the front stage where one can interact with it and see it. According to Goffman, each person has different unique roles, which one applies in different interactional situations. For the representation of one’s role, every person has two expressions at their
One of them is the expression one gives themselves. This is also possible through speech. The second one is the expression he emanates. This is possible through gesture, behavior, clothing and facial expression etc. Controlling both of these factures simultaneously is difficult to control. Therefore, one can leave gaps between the patterns, where an interacting partner can be able to suspect and detect attempts of manipulation. Furthermore, the chapter continues with the function of the front. “Front, then, is the expressive equipment of a standard kind intentionally or unwittingly employed by the individual during his performance.” (p 19) To build up a front there are three other components that one needs. The first one is called setting. The setting consists of “furniture, decor, physical layout, and other background items which supply the scenery and stage props for the