Class Notes, Week 6, Social Interaction
Definition of the situation:
the meanings we attach to our immediate circumstances.
Our
behavior does not depend on the objective existence of something, but rather our subjective
interpretation, our “definition of reality.”
Dramaturgy
(developed by Erving Goffman), also called presentation of self, also called
impression management:
In this perspective, we are all social actors with
roles, costumes, scripts, props, an
audience, and a stage
.
Our interactions are all
performances
and socialization teaches us how to perform based
on the stage, and how to do it convincingly.
We can use our understanding of definition of the situation and looking-glass self to
influence our role, costumes, script, stage, props, and acting.
(i.e. getting ready for a
romantic evening at your apartment).
Just as an actor is trying to create a character that
they feel the audience will interpret correctly, our actions represent sometimes
unconscious/conscious attempts to do the same.
This is the end of the preview.
Sign up
to
access the rest of the document.
- Fall '08
- Clarke
- Sociology, Erving Goffman, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Social Interaction Definition
-
Click to edit the document details