Sat, Jul 25 · 1:00 PM MDT
We will be reading the introduction and chapter 1 of Goffman's social psychology book.
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1956) by The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life is a foundational work in social psychology/sociology. Drawing on a theatrical metaphor, Erving Goffman argues that everyday social interaction resembles a stage performance in which individuals consciously and unconsciously manage the impressions others form of them. People perform different roles depending on their audience, presenting a carefully curated "front stage" self while reserving a more authentic or private "backstage" self for trusted settings. Goffman contends that social order depends on these performances, as individuals cooperate to sustain shared definitions of situations and avoid embarrassment or disruption.
Historically, the book transformed the study of face-to-face interaction by shifting sociological attention from large institutions to the subtle rituals of everyday life. Its influence extends across sociology, psychology, communication studies, organizational behavior, marketing, and the analysis of social media.
Key themes include: impression management, role performance, audience segregation, identity construction, teamwork in sustaining performances, social norms, and the distinction between appearance and reality.
Goffman's central insight is that identity is not simply something people possess but something they actively create and negotiate through interaction, making social life a continuous process of performance, interpretation, and mutual cooperation.
We will be in Memorial Park Library meeting room #1 downstairs. You may need to ask a staff member to let you down if the door is locked.
