Reflection Paper on the Presentation of Self in Everyday Life

Reflection Paper on the Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
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The Question Is, Are We Presenting or Pretending for Oneself?
Understanding each person’s actions and reactions in everyday life is a complex and tedious process that requires meticulousness and inquisitiveness. The excellent way to comprehend them is by placing each person on a “social stage” who dynamically formulates impressions about themselves to benefit and amuse them. Ultimately, this will lead to amusing oneself. Concerning this, the book “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life” was written by Erving Goffman to appreciate and value face-to-face human interaction using the theory of social interaction applied in the imagery of theaters, which he insinuated as the dramaturgical model of social life (Goffman, 1978).
Goffman (1978) tackled the nuances of life and created scenarios where people were analyzed based on their actions, such that they portray their emotions based on a real-life drama play. Each person has a designated role, and the audience is permitted to observe and analyze each actor’s actions and expressions and react to these. Like in a theatrical performance, social interaction comprises a front and a backstage. The former refers to the actor’s performance, where they are being watched by the audience, whose reactions influence the actor’s behaviors. The latter refers to where the actors settle down and feel the calm and joy of being true to themselves. Contrary to the front stage, where they need to assume an identity, they did not have to portray any role in the back region and need to be themselves at all times.
In our daily lives, we interact with other people based on our roles in society, and most, if not, the only time that we can be true is when we are alone facing ourselves in front of a mirror. Goffman’s mentions about our façade and honest figures when no one is looking resonated the most, since this is what the society indeed looks like. Outside ourselves, we assume many roles—a daughter or son, sister or brother, friend, student, employee, or simply a spectator. Even when most do not have a specific guideline to follow, all of these are different roles with distinguished characteristics and objectives. Most of the...