Goffman, Erving

Goffman on Self-Presentation

Goffman is one of the top 10 most frequently cited social scientists. His work displays a unique view of the world that is of particular importance to those interested in lying and deception. Woven [Page 409]throughout all of his work is the perspective that people present themselves in particular ways to adjust to the demands of society and the social situation; people do not necessarily represent their real selves, but in each particular situation present specific social roles. This perspective offers extensive potential for the examination of lying, deception, secrets, and impression creation and management.

Goffman's first and most acknowledged book, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life (1959), for which he received the MacIver Award from the American Sociological Association, is most illustrative of his ideas about the presentation of self, In this book he described everyday life via the metaphor of the stage, delving into concepts such as front stage, back stage, and props, all related to the main purpose of individuals in particular microsocial systems of interaction—the endeavor to present a particular positive image, that is, social role, to others. Goffman used the metaphor of the stage, setting scenes, and playing particular roles, as an apropos comparison to social interaction. He recognized the similarity between fictional presentations on the stage and the impression management individuals continually partake of in their everyday lives.

This theme is continued throughout his publications. In Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity (1963), Goffman discusses how stigmatized individuals are expected, by societal standards, to ease the tension of the “normals,” that is, individuals not stigmatized in a particular social situation. This text also discusses how the “discreditable,” that is, individuals who at any point in time may be revealed to be stigmatized, manage to control information so as to not alert normals to their stigma.

The book addresses the impressions individuals attempt to create in others' minds. For example, one method a discredited individual uses to ease tensions in normals is to present himself or herself as a “very good” sort of stigmatized person, for example, a very nice, very educated, very erudite, and very sophisticated pedophile. Discreditable individuals present themselves as normal, not admitting or leaking information, so as not to alert normals their real stigmatized societal status. Stigmatized and discreditable individuals present a social self that is other than the real self; they attempt to create positive impressions in others' minds.

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