Erving Goffman was a prominent sociologist from the 1940s known for studying human interactions in social settings.
He introduced the concept of "dramaturgy" to explain how people plan their behavior and try to control how they are perceived by others.
Dramaturgy
Definition: A process through which individuals manage their behavior and presentation in social settings.
Purpose: To guide and control perceptions, acting differently in social settings than when alone.
Components of Dramaturgy
Frontstage
Description: The social settings where individuals perform and put on a front to influence how others perceive them.
Example: A new person in a group pretends to like baseball to gain favor and make friends, even if they dislike the sport.
Function: Acts as a performance for an audience to gain social approval and acceptance.
Backstage
Description: The private area of an individual's life where they do not have to perform and can be their true selves.
Example: The same individual enjoys watching cooking shows and spending time with their cat, away from the social gaze.
Function: A space for relaxation and authenticity, known only to a few close individuals or sometimes no one at all.
Interaction Between Frontstage and Backstage
Social Media Influence:
People are increasingly blending their backstage with frontstage due to social media.
Individuals may present a curated version of their private lives online, creating a facade of happiness and activity that might not reflect reality.
Example: Someone might show off their social life and relationships online, while in reality, they might feel isolated.
Summary
Frontstage: Planned social performance to gain favor.
Backstage: Private, relaxed area of life, not usually visible to others.
Integration: Social media is blurring the lines between the two, causing individuals to perform even in private settings.
Conclusion
Goffman's dramaturgy provides insight into human behavior in social settings, highlighting the contrast between public performance and private reality.