Dramaturgy Glossary

Keeping different audiences separate so they do not witness contradictory performances by the same individual.

Private spaces where performers relax, drop their public personas, and prepare for front stage performances.

The practice of briefly acknowledging someone's presence and then withdrawing attention to respect their privacy in public.

W.I. Thomas's principle that people's interpretations of a situation shape their actions and the situation's real consequences.

Roles involving access to disruptive information that could undermine an ongoing performance.

A sociological perspective using theatrical metaphor to analyze how individuals present themselves in social interaction.

Canadian-American sociologist (1922-1982) who developed the dramaturgical perspective and microsociological analysis.

The positive social value a person claims for themselves through the line others assume they have taken during interaction.

Actions taken to maintain consistency between one's behavior and the social image one is presenting.

The alignment or stance a participant takes in relation to others during an interaction, which can shift during conversation.

The study of how people use interpretive schemas to organize experience and make sense of social events.

Social settings where individuals perform for audiences while adhering to expected norms and role requirements.

Presenting a polished version of oneself by emphasizing desirable qualities and concealing inconsistencies.

The process of controlling how others perceive you through strategic regulation of information and behavior.

Goffman's concept that face-to-face interactions constitute a distinct domain of sociological study with their own rules.

Patterned social encounters governed by implicit rules, such as greeting sequences and conversational turn-taking.

The sequence of changes in a person's self-concept as they move through institutional or social experiences.

Maintaining social distance between performer and audience to inspire awe and prevent close scrutiny.

A group of individuals cooperating to stage a single impression or routine for an audience.

Expressive equipment individuals carry, including appearance and manner, used by audiences to interpret performances.

Separating oneself from a role to signal that one is not entirely defined by that role.

The physical environment or scenery that supports and contextualizes a dramaturgical performance.

An attribute that deeply discredits an individual, reducing them from a whole person to a tainted one.

Deliberately ignoring breaches in performance to help the performer save face and maintain social order.

An enclosed setting where all aspects of life are conducted under a single authority, isolated from the wider society.