Language
Country/Area
No result found
Goffman and the Mask: Do you know how he interprets our social identities?
In the field of sociology, Erving Goffman is widely considered to be one of the most influential American sociologists of the 20th century. Since the publication of his classic work, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, in 1956, Goffman's concepts and theories continue to have a profound influence in contemporary social science. His research focuses on the nature of human interaction, especially the dynamics of face-to-face interaction, which makes him stand out from the crowd.
Goffman pointed out that people in social interactions are like actors on a stage, constantly trying to control and direct the impressions formed by others.
Goffman's concept of social identity mainly comes from his theory of "drama analysis". He viewed social interaction as a performance, emphasizing that people play different roles in different situations to conform to society's expectations and norms of them. This understanding highlights the relative nature of social interactions, suggesting that our identities are dynamic and ever-changing.
Construction of social identity
Goffman explored how our social identities are maintained and managed through "impression management." He believes that people strive to present an accepted self-image in every interaction, both out of the need to interact with others and because of the pressures society puts on them. This process involves not only the presentation of self, but also the anticipation of other people's reactions.
Impression management is a set of behaviors people engage in to shape how others perceive them.
In this way, Goffman provides an insightful perspective for understanding identity in social interaction. People use various strategies in the social field to maintain their image and status, thereby influencing the evaluation of people around them. For example, the clothing and behavior during the interview will invisibly convey the social status of the job seeker.
Mask and true self
Goffman further explored the other side of social identity, namely stigma and self-protection, in his work Stigma: The Management of Flawed Identity. He believes that when an individual's behavior or appearance deviates from social standards, they feel the pressure of stigma. To protect themselves, they often hide their flaws to avoid possible social judgment and rejection.
In Goffman's view, stigma is a social label that can profoundly affect an individual's self-cognition and social interactions.
Goffman pointed out that the standards of social expectations influence people's behavior patterns, and it is often difficult to escape these expectations even in their private lives. This view challenges traditional individualism and emphasizes the profound influence of social environment on identity formation.
Interaction rituals and the meaning of masks
In Interaction Rituals: A Study of Face-to-Face Behavior, Goffman analyzed various ritual behaviors that exist in social interactions to maintain face and social harmony. He defines "face" as a positive self-image that an individual presents in social interactions, and points out that people are committed to protecting this face to avoid embarrassment or failure.
Goffman believes that all ritual behaviors in social interaction are aimed at maintaining self-image and social order.
These ritual behaviors are especially important when facing strangers or in social situations. People not only convey themselves, but also inadvertently influence the perceptions of others. In Goffman's theory, this situation emphasizes the diversity and complexity of social identities, which have both the positive aspects of expressing oneself and the necessity of hiding one's inner self.
ConclusionIn summary, Goffman provides us with a new perspective for understanding the construction and management of social identity through his dramatization analysis and interaction ritual theory. His theory tells us that our identities, regardless of social context, are dynamic processes based on dialogue and interaction. In today's society, do you also wear a mask in your daily life, trying to hide your true self in order to meet the expectations of others?
