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Psychology

Stigma and the Management of Spoiled Identities

Quick fact

Goffman's framework distinguishes between 'discredited' identities (visible stigma) and 'discreditable' identities (hidden stigma), arguing that the latter requires constant 'information management' to prevent reveal—a process he famously likened to a baseball player's 'covering' moves on the field.

Why this is interesting

Have you ever felt the urge to hide something about yourself from others? Erving Goffman's classic theory reveals how such 'spoiled identities' shape our social lives, and the intricate strategies we use to keep them hidden.