In sociology, the terms "front stage" and "back stage" refer to different behaviors that people engage in every day. Developed by the late sociologist Erving Goffman, they form part of the dramaturgical perspective within sociology that uses the metaphor of the theater to explain social interaction. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life is a 1956 sociology book by Erving Goffman, in which the author uses the imagery of the theatre in order to portray the importance of human social interaction; this would become known as Goffman's dramaturgical analysis approach.
Full Answer
What is back stage behavior?
When people engage in back stage behavior, they are free of the expectations and norms that dictate front stage behavior. Given this, people are often more relaxed and comfortable when back stage; they let their guard down and behave in ways that reflect their uninhibited or "true" selves.
What is the front stage of sociology?
In sociology, the terms "front stage" and "back stage" refer to different behaviors that people engage in every day. Developed by the late sociologist Erving Goffman, they form part of the dramaturgical perspective within sociology that uses the metaphor of the theater to explain social interaction.
What happens when you are backstage?
When people are back stage, they often rehearse certain behaviors or interactions and otherwise prepare for upcoming front stage performances. They might practice their smile or handshake, rehearse a presentation or conversation, or prep themselves to look a certain way once in public again. So even back stage, people are aware of norms and expectations, which influence what they think about and do. In private, people behave in ways that they would never in public.
What is the role of setting in dramaturgical performance?
The dramaturgical perspective also emphasizes the importance of the "setting," or context, in shaping the performance, the role of a person's "appearance" in social interaction , and the effect the "manner" of a person's behavior has on the overall performance.
What is the game stage of development?
Game stage. According to George Herbert Mead, during this phase of development a child learns to take the role of numerous "others" and can thereby internalize a general sense of the social norms and values prevailing in her or his society. Internalization stage.
What is the meaning of "presenting a favorable image of one's self"?
Presenting a favorable image of one's self so that others will form positive judgments. Persuading someone to aim for a more desirable identity. Action taken to restore an identity that has been damage. Persuading someone to accept a less desirable alternative identity.
What is a living arrangement?
A living arrangement composed of one or more people who occupy a housing unit. A living arrangement in which a married couple sets up residence separate from either spouse's family. A family unit consisting of the nuclear family group and other relatives, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
What is backstage setting?
Backstage settings, where interactions typically take place among whites only, involve an array of complex interactions and performances. There we observe all dimensions of racial events– indications of who is allowed and not allowed in the backstage, what racialized performances are tolerated or expected there, ...
What are the backstage events of racism?
Racial events that reveal the larger forces of racism in society are common and obvious in the sociospatial realm we term the backstage, especially in situations where whites interact with white friends and relatives. Backstage settings, where interactions typically take place among whites only, involve an array of complex interactions and performances. There we observe all dimensions of racial events– indications of who is allowed and not allowed in the backstage, what racialized performances are tolerated or expected there, the sociospatial character of contexts, the impact of conventional racial framing, and the pervasive influence of the larger society. Here we go beyond the content of “what” happened to numerous other dimensions. Although we deem it important to provide descriptions of events, our goal is also to access how and where these interactions transpire, as well as various underlying features.
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
Front Stage Behavior—The World Is A Stage
- The idea that people play different roles throughout their daily lives and display different kinds of behavior depending on where they are and the time of day is a familiar one. Most people, consciously or unconsciously, behave somewhat differently as their professional selves vs. their private or intimate selves. According to Goffman, people engage in "front stage" behavior when t…
Back Stage Behavior—What We Do When No One's Looking
- When people engage in back stage behavior, they are free of the expectations and norms that dictate front stage behavior. Given this, people are often more relaxed and comfortable when back stage; they let their guard down and behave in ways that reflect their uninhibited or "true" selves. They cast off elements of their appearance required for a f...