Answered: What is dramaturgy?

10th Edition

ISBN:9780134641287

Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers

Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ1

Related questions

Question

What is dramaturgy?

Expert Solution

Introduction

Erving Goffman developed a sociological perspective by applying dramaturgy to analyze and study the social interactions.

Explanation

The dramaturgical perspective shares the following views on society and social interactions:

Social interactions are believed to be taking place in a social setting. Goffman says that a social setting represents a stage where the interacting individual represents an actor acting out a script.
The actor or interacting individual learns and practices impression management backstage to appease the audience by acting out in front stage. Impression management is how the generalized other is realized. The backstage is where the actual self exists.
The dramaturgical perspective believes that social interaction changes nature and content depending on the time, place, and audience.
Dramaturgy is an offshoot of symbolic interaction, where the varying nature of human interactions are studied and analyzed.