In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, hosts Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark examine sociologist Erving Goffman's theory that social interactions mirror theatrical performances. The hosts explore how people present different versions of themselves depending on their social setting, introducing Goffman's concepts of "front stage" and "backstage" selves—the way we act in public versus private settings.
The discussion delves into the various techniques people use to manage others' impressions of them, from facial expressions to emotional control. Bryant and Clark also address how impression management affects marginalized groups, examining practices like code-switching in the African-American community and the pressure some individuals face to modify their behavior or conceal stigmatized features to navigate different social environments.
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On their podcast, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark explore Erving Goffman's influential theory that views social interactions as theatrical performances. According to Goffman, people act as performers presenting different versions of themselves depending on their social setting.
Goffman's theory introduces the concept of the "front stage" self—a curated persona that adheres to social norms and expectations. As Bryant and Clark discuss, people naturally adjust their behavior based on context, such as acting differently at work versus with friends. The "backstage" self, in contrast, represents a more authentic and informal version of oneself that emerges in private settings or among close friends and family.
The hosts explore how people actively manage others' impressions of them through various techniques. This includes aligning facial expressions with verbal communication, practicing emotional restraint, and associating with esteemed others. Bryant and Clark note that impression management can be both conscious and unconscious, with some behaviors being deliberately practiced while others occur automatically through lifelong conditioning.
While impression management is often viewed as inauthentic, Goffman argues that the "authentic" self is always selectively revealed. The hosts discuss how impression management becomes particularly crucial for stigmatized individuals who may need to modify their behavior to avoid discrimination. Bryant shares an example of an Indian American schoolmate who Americanized her name before later reclaiming her original name.
The discussion highlights how marginalized individuals often face additional pressure to manage impressions through practices like code-switching. Bryant explains how this is particularly prevalent in the African-American community, where individuals might adjust their behavior and speech between family settings and "white America." Clark adds that some individuals may feel compelled to cover stigmatized features to increase their chances of success in various social situations.
1-Page Summary
Erving Goffman's work laid the foundation for understanding social interactions as performances, with Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark discussing how Goffman's theories apply to the "front stage self" and the concept of "impression management."
Erving Goffman observed that interactions are like performances where individuals act as performers on stage. Chuck Bryant relates this to putting on their "best faces" for the episode, invoking the idea of a "front stage self" that people present in various social settings. Goffman's seminal work, "The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life," explores this notion of performance aspect in everyday interactions. Josh Clark expands on the idea by explaining that people perform differently depending on their social setting, like school or a bar, constantly adapting their "front stage selves" to align with the expectations of the social setting they are in.
The podcast hosts delve into the nuances of Goffman's theory, such as "impression management," the deliberate control and shaping of one's presentation to influence perception by others. Goffman's idea of "face work," which encompasses desires like saving face or managing facial expressions, also plays into this. For example, even if words during a disagreement are measured, an incongruent facial expression can convey a conflicting message.
Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark recognize their on-air personas as their "front stage selves," which align with Goffman's theory. In Goffman's view, people operate on a social script, drawn from past experiences to guide behavior in social scenarios. Interactions are thus like a performance, seeking to reac ...
Erving Goffman's Dramaturgical Theory of Social Interaction
The concepts of "front stage" and "backstage" selves are explored through the lens of Erving Goffman's theory as Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark discuss self-presentation in various social contexts including their podcast.
Chuck Bryant addresses the notion of the "front stage" self when discussing how individuals present themselves in public, especially within his own experience on the podcast. Goffman's theory suggests that the "front stage" self is a curated persona that adheres to social norms and expectations. Bryant points out that through appearance and clothing, people often convey their social status or occupation, which is part of the "front stage" self.
Behaviors and interactions are almost performed second nature, as Bryant notes, in accordance with societal rules that uphold social order. Similarly, Clark and Bryant suggest that people exhibit different "front stage" selves in professional settings versus being with friends, highlighting the versatility of the personas we adopt depending on the situation.
For instance, adhering to social norms helps avoid appearing bizarre or threatening. An example of this would be acting nonchalantly after a public fall, to avoid disrupting social order, or modulating one's behavior when meeting a friend's parent. Bryant talks about having to 'turn on the Chuck' in performative circumstances, contrasting with a much more relaxed interaction with friends.
The podcast discussion implies that the "backstage" self, which reflects one's more authentic, informal self, is revealed in private settings or when among close friends and family. Here, individuals might feel at ease and exhibit a more genuine version of themselves.
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The Concepts of "Front Stage" and "Backstage" Selves
In a discussion on the nuances of impression management, Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark address the strategies and considerations one must take into account while crafting their public persona.
Impression management is about the deliberate construction of identity to influence how others perceive us. It involves highlighting certain aspects of our authentic self that resonate with the image we aim to project. This selection process, known as target value, is guided by what we believe others expect or desire from us. When crafting an impression, it's also vital to consider role constraints, ensuring that the presented self matches the general expectations of the social roles we are fulfilling.
Furthermore, it is essential for facial expressions to align with verbal communication to convey a consistent and clear message. Impression motivation derives from the relevance of one’s image in achieving a desired goal, such as landing a job, the personal value placed on that goal, and the perceived discrepancy between one's current image and the ideal projection. This perceived gap informs the extent to which an individual feels compelled to adjust their behavior to better align with the desired impression.
Techniques for creating positive impressions include flattery and ingratiation, as well as conforming to expectations and exercising emotional restraint. Being strategic about the display of emotions in accordance with social cues—a skill involving cognitive empathy and self-monitoring—is key in managing impressions successfully. Basking in reflected glory, or associating with esteemed others, is encouraged, while downward comparison, which involves denigrating others to boost self-image, is discouraged.
Bryant and Clark highlight that impression management can range from conscious strategies to automatic or subconscious behaviors. Not everyone has a natural aptitude for the social instincts required in certain situations like being polite in a job interview; others might need to practice or learn these behaviors deliberately.
Impression management can be a constant undercurrent in our social interactions, whether we are conscious of it or not. An example they mention is the instinctual behavior of checking if others noticed us after a fall, or the automatic generation of an excuse to cover embarrassment—the ...
The Factors and Techniques Involved In Impression Management
Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark explore the intricate relationship between authenticity, stigma, and impression management, drawing on Erving Goffman's views that the self is selectively revealed and managed in social interactions.
Conversations in the podcast suggest that while impression management is often viewed as inauthentic, it is a necessary part of social interaction, which aligns with Goffman's perspective that the "authentic" self is always selectively revealed. Bryant notes that in real life, unlike in drama, unexpected behaviors that violate social norms are not appreciated, while deviations from the norm might actually represent a person’s true self.
The hosts convey that impression management isn't just about altering oneself to fit in, but should also consider what authentic aspects one possesses that can be used to impress others.
The discussion indicates that impression management behaviors are rational responses to societal expectations, underscoring the complexity of the "true self" in different contexts. Impression construction is based on authenticity since authenticity is valued, but managing impressions also has an inevitable element of artifice. The conversation alludes to the unsustainable nature of keeping up a lie and compares it to a sitcom plot.
Moreover, suppressing emotions as part of impression management isn't necessarily inauthentic but may be a strategic presentation of self. Even if practiced unconsciously, impression management does not equate to inauthenticity, according to Clark and Bryant.
Bryant discusses how stigmatized individuals often engage in impression management to avoid discrimination. He references Goffman’s argument that belonging to stigmatized categories like mental illness or being unhoused involves managing impressions to mitig ...
Role of Authenticity and Stigma in Impression Management
The transcript reflects a discussion on how impression management plays a significant role in the lives of marginalized individuals, although it does not provide specific details on their unique experiences.
Josh Clark notes that Erving Goffman had real sympathy for people on the fringes of society, which relates to the broader understanding of the pressures and motivations for marginalized individuals to manage impressions. However, the transcript does not delve into Goffman's specific views on social norms and stigmatization.
Although not directly addressed in the transcript, Chuck Bryant's anecdotes hint at the psychological effort required from those who need to manage impressions or code-switch in social interactions. He illustrates the psychological tax of impression management by referencing how grown men might change their behavior as children to be more socially accepted, which still affects them today.
The conversation between Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant touches on the discomfort caused by gender-fluid individuals violating social scripts. They discuss how societal norms tend to remain static unless actively challenged and how adhering to norms signals safety to others, a form of impression management that ...
Implications of Impression Management for Marginalized Groups
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