Dramaturgy and Impression Management

Dramaturgy and Impression Management

Over the years, social interaction has been one of the most important factors that formed the basis of support, individual wellbeing, and entertainment among individuals. However, society controls the manner in which individuals present themselves to others, which might be different from the way they act in their private life. According to Erving Goffman, humans are active and knowledgeable, which indicates the fact that individuals have the capacity to make a decision concerning their behavior. Besides, individuals have the capacity to devise their conduct and control how individuals see them in different settings. Therefore, Goffman believed that human beings are con artists. This paper will describe the meaning of dramaturgy and impression management, their comparison, and apply the theory of ethnomethodology in both concepts.

Dramaturgy

Dramaturgy can be described as the theatrical representation of life, which shows how individuals behave in society and also characterize themselves. In this, the people are the actors, while society is the stage, and interactions that individuals engage with others is shown by the dialogue they have with the audience. However, the manner in which they present themselves is majorly directed by the norms, beliefs, values, and the common cultural practices that are established by society. The stage, according to Erving Goffman, is divided into the front and the back, which shows the behaviors we depict in a social and private setting, respectively. Apart from that, the concept indicates that social interaction is influenced by the place and time in which the activity occurs and the audience available.

The front stage behavior is usually exhibited when an individual is aware that someone is watching them. It is a reflection of the internal norms and expectations which are slightly modified by the setting, the physical appearance, and the role to be played by the person. Furthermore, the manner in which individuals engage themselves in the front stage performance is highly purposeful and intentional or habitual. The behavior usually follows the learned social script, which has been shaped the societal norms; for instance, waiting in line to board a bus. Additionally, the front stage does not need to be in an unfamiliar environment; it can be someone among his/her colleagues. In all settings, individuals are aware of what they are expected of and how others perceive them, and this leads them to make informed decisions on how to behave. It not only influences how individuals should say and do in a social setting but also how they style and dress, the consumer items to use, and the behavior to show. Consequentially, this will shape how other people will view and behave towards them as well as what they are expected of.

On the other hand, backstage behavior is not ruled by the expectations and norms, rather the private, relaxed, and comfortable individual behavior. They exhibit a person’s true selves. It can even be characterized by different ways of speaking and dressing from that shown in the front stage. Apart from that, it is the stage where individuals rehearse certain behaviors or even interactions so that they can perfect their front stage. For instance, they can practice handshake smile, looks, or their conversation. The knowledge about the norms and expectations of society influences how they think and do.

However, in private, they behave in a manner they might never do in public. Although the backstage sometimes might involve individuals such as family, the individuals might not fully surrender their behavior as if they were alone.

Impression Management

Impression management can be described as an intentional and goal-directed process in which individuals attempt to influence the perceptions of other people towards them, an object, or an event. This is mainly done through the control of the information they let out during social interactions. Impression management is controlled by the norms, values, and beliefs that have been established in society and involves the way in which an individual wants others to view, talk, or imagine about them. For example, the way in which a person presents himself or herself to the public can either benefit or harm them, and for this reason, individuals control how the public views them to achieve their goals.

It is worth noting the fact that the behavior that is exhibited by the individuals in public might not be the same way they could behave whey are alone. However, they play different roles, which then forces them to act and behave differently in different settings. For instance, taking roles of a teacher, parent, brother, or a colleague will require changes in the way the individual presents themselves to another. In addition, individuals relax and practice what they want others to perceive towards them when they are alone before the actual act, performance, or interaction with other people. This is done mainly with the aim to manipulate the persons they interact with and achieve their goals, promote consistent and positive views, and show their conformity to the social norms even if it is not the case.

Comparison of Dramaturgy and Impression Management

Dramaturgy and Impression management poses a lot of similarities and a few differences in terms of the behavior exhibited by individuals. Both of them involve a shift in the behavior of individuals based on the setting they are in, time, and the people they interact with. The behavior or their self-presentation, when they are in the front stage, is very different from those they show in the backstage, and it is significantly influenced by the established societal norms, beliefs, and values. Besides, those exhibited in the front stage are practiced in the backstage to promote better performance and create an impression that fits the requirement of the society. However, dramaturgy requires the involvement of impression management tools to promote the success of the front stage. In all the cases, individuals have the capacity to make informed decisions and can change their behavior to fit the expectation of the people he/she interacts with. On the other hand, dramaturgy shows a theatrical representation of life, while impression management is a goal-directed process carried out by individuals to control the perception of others towards them. Therefore, the former indicates how individuals carry themselves in both front and backstage while the latter aims to control the perception of people.

Application of Ethnomethodology Theory

Ethnomethodology is a sociological theory that focuses on how individuals, as rational actors, make sense of their everyday world through the utilization of practical reasoning instead of formal logic. Social order depends on individuals behaving in a common-sense way, and thus, the pattern of behavior results from their accumulation of the individual’s common sense. According to the theory, society exists only as the members perceive its existence. So, it is very important to understand the member’s view of social reality to have a better understanding. As stated by Erving Goffman, dramaturgy involves living to the expectations of society, especially in the front stage. However, this requires a proper understanding of the values of the society and how an individual is expected to do things which can be achieved significantly through the ethnomethodology. Apart from that, impression management claims the issue of controlling the way in which individuals view others, which requires having a good understanding of their behavior and what can be considered as a common norm. Therefore, it is the duty of the actor or the person aiming to get specific perceptions from the public/audience to have a better understanding of the people they interact with.

Conclusion

Conclusively, social interactions among human beings can be likened to drama because of the way individuals behave when others see them and when they are alone. The issue of dramaturgy and impression management have been in existence and are majorly controlled by the norms, beliefs, and values set by society. Besides, an individual device the manner in which the society views them through control of the information they get to the public or the style they present themselves to those they interact with. Dramaturgy though, requires the application of impression management to facilitate its front stage and thus offer the impression of how human beings live.