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Goffman's Dramatic Society: Do you know how he viewed life as a stage?
In the field of sociology, Erving Goffman is a name that cannot be ignored. His research considered everyday interactions as performances on a stage, pioneering the view of dramatic society. Beginning with his 1956 book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Goffman's theories have provided a new perspective on the understanding of social interaction. He believes that individuals "perform" their selves in different social environments, which is not only an influence on others, but also a process of constructing their own identity.
Goffman described interactions between people as a drama. In this drama, each actor attempts to control the image they project in order to change their impression on the audience.
Goffman's family background had an indisputable influence on his academic career. He was born in 1922 in Alberta, Canada, to a Ukrainian Jewish family. From the beginning, he showed an interest in the observation and understanding of society. Although he initially majored in chemistry at the University of Manitoba, a chance encounter led him to sociology, eventually earning his master's and doctorate degrees at the University of Chicago.
Goffman's research not only influenced the field of sociology, but his academic language and style made his works more accessible to non-professional readers. This resulted in his works, such as Asylums and Stigma, becoming classics. He expands our understanding of mental illness and social identity and develops the concept of "overarching institutions," revealing how these institutions shape individuals' self-identities.
Goffman's book Stigma explores how a person's identity is managed when they fail to meet society's standards. People often avoid shame by hiding parts of themselves, a behavior that reflects society's strict standards of identity.
His work has sparked widespread discussion in the academic community, particularly in the area of social interaction and face-to-face communication. He further elaborated on the concepts of "interaction order" and "impression management", both of which have become important tools for understanding daily behavioral patterns. Goffman believed that people's behavior in social situations is often defined by how they want to be seen by others.
Goffman's influence is not limited to sociology. His theories also have an impact on linguistics, psychology, anthropology and other fields. Especially in today's society, where our daily lives are filled with social media displays, Goffman's ideas appear even more forward-looking. His research makes us reflect on how the process of social interaction changes our self-identity and behavioral norms.
In Goffman's view, "self" is not fixed, but changes according to different social environments. This means that the self that an individual presents in a given situation is a product of the social situation in which they find themselves.
Goffman's research methods, such as the application of ethnography, provide a deeper understanding of sociological research. By studying the social environment of mental hospitals, he revealed the profound impact of "institutionalization" on individual lives, and advocated a humane approach to viewing mental health issues. In addition, he also questioned some concepts in the traditional sociological categories of the past, proposing new perspectives and challenging our understanding of social structure and behavior.
Although Goffman died in 1982, his influence continues to this day. Modern sociologists are still exploring and applying his theories, and so far, Goffman is still regarded as one of the most influential American sociologists of the 20th century. His students and followers also inherited and developed his ideas to varying degrees.
Goffman's work not only led the research trend of social interaction, but also inspired continuous thinking about individual identity and social structure. His theory has become an important tool for analyzing contemporary society.
In summary, Goffman, with his unique perspective and academic contribution, allows us to re-examine social interactions in daily life. Life is like a play, everyone is constantly performing, trying to present their ideal self on different stages. In this context, can we truly understand and establish genuine connections with others?
