Dramaturgical Theory Of The Self

Sociology is unique in the sense that one of its main principles is based on removing the idea of a ‘self’ from the epicenter of human behavior. This theory is what sets sociology apart from other fields of study. The basis of psychology, for example, is so heavily dependent on the individuality of the mind and specific human tendencies. When the idea of the self is stripped away from psychology, the science becomes a lot shallower and less important. However it’s not just psychology that has a strong belief in the self. Most other social sciences accept the idea that everyone has a true self as well. In fact, the autonomous ‘self’ is engrained so deeply within human culture it’s almost impossible to weed it out. It’s never taught, yet we all seem to have a common understanding of what it means. The notion that we may not actually have the true self we all believe we possess is a difficult concept to wrap our minds around. Those who challenge this idea of the unique self are often

This theory can essentially be summed up by the Shakespeare quote “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Goffman theorized that people are constantly putting on a performance to appear in an ideal light to the group they are with in that moment. He proposed that social life is all just a complex theatrical and constructive performance. Goffman was not implying that people are being fake when socializing, but rather implying that everyone is constantly acting on a subconscious need to fit into a situation. Most people feel as though they are their ‘true self’ when they’re with a close friend or by themselves, however Goffman would argue that even these interactions are a performance in some ways. There is no ‘true sense of self’ that you show to your close friends, because even that image has been molded over years of interactions and development as a