Erving Goffman

Erving Goffman (1922-1982) was a Canadian-American sociologist and one of the most influential social theorists of the twentieth century, known for his close, often literary analysis of everyday face-to-face interaction. His 1956 book The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life introduced 'dramaturgy,' the idea that social life resembles theatrical performance, with individuals managing 'front stage' and 'back stage' impressions to influence how others perceive them. In Asylums (1961) he developed the concept of the 'total institution,' and in Stigma (1963) he examined how people manage identities that are socially discredited. Goffman held positions at Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania and served as president of the American Sociological Association. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/