Interaction Analysis of Goffman’s Claims

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Interaction analysis of Goffman’s Claims Stephanie Oliveira Professor Nelson 27 November 2013 Goffman was an influential Canadian sociologist and writer who produced a theory about self-presentation. Based on this theory, he came up with fourteen fundamental claims. These fundamental claims are based on the analysis of how people communicate their identities to others by giving off signals. I believe that these claims are true and are demonstrated in our lives every day. This belief was proven to be correct when I attended a wedding in the middle of October and studied the communication of identities that people displayed by signals given off. Several people at this wedding exhibited many of the claims made by Goffman in his theory of self-presentation. The first claim in Goffman’s theory explains that others know about us through their observation and interpretation of our front, which is a collection of signs that we consciously give to others, and apparently unconsciously and unintentionally give off. It also explains that this mask is our true self according to human interaction because that is the only self that others are able to observe. This claim was proven to be true by the best man at this wedding. With the front and signals given off by the best man, we were all able to see that he is a funny man. There were two occasions during this wedding in which the best man demonstrated his humorous front. When entering the reception, the best man had the idea of switching outfits with the maid of honor. He entered the reception wearing a dress that he could not zip up all the way up and danced around the dance floor, celebrating his brother’s wedding. The next occasion was during his speech in which he said kind words about his brother to demonstrate his compassionate side, but he also made several jokes throughout his speech to show off his humorous side.

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