Module: Sociology and Everyday Life
Week 5 – Erving Goffman – The Present of Self in Everyday Life
Apply Goffman’s ideas to everyday life.
Introduction
Goffman highlights in the first half of the book the things that people never
really thought about.
Dramaturgical model
We constantly modify our performances to adjust to what the audience
expects.
It has been suggested that Goffman sees things from a cynical perspective.
Goffman makes the point that our performances are not done solo – there is
cooperation and mutual support.
Communication
Goffman introduces two modes of communication
Goffman was much more interested in unintentional gestures
Expression
Two types of expression: symmetrical and asymmetrical
Asymmetry how they are coming across doesn’t match up to what they are
saying
Consensus
We try to convince other people that our version of reality is the correct reality.
We try to define the situation in our own terms.
Working consensus = an agreement between people
Belief in the part
Week 5 – Erving Goffman – The Present of Self in Everyday Life
Apply Goffman’s ideas to everyday life.
Introduction
Goffman highlights in the first half of the book the things that people never
really thought about.
Dramaturgical model
We constantly modify our performances to adjust to what the audience
expects.
It has been suggested that Goffman sees things from a cynical perspective.
Goffman makes the point that our performances are not done solo – there is
cooperation and mutual support.
Communication
Goffman introduces two modes of communication
Goffman was much more interested in unintentional gestures
Expression
Two types of expression: symmetrical and asymmetrical
Asymmetry how they are coming across doesn’t match up to what they are
saying
Consensus
We try to convince other people that our version of reality is the correct reality.
We try to define the situation in our own terms.
Working consensus = an agreement between people
Belief in the part
