Psychology
Dramaturgy and the Presentation of Self
Quick fact
Sociologist Erving Goffman compared social interaction to a theatrical performance, arguing that we all engage in 'impression management' to control how others see us, often presenting a different self in public than we do in private.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever acted more confident in front of a crowd than you actually felt? That's because every social encounter is a stage, and you are always performing.