The book argues that individuals in everyday social interactions actively manage how they appear to others, controlling the impressions they create through specific techniques, much like an actor performing a role. This performance is sustained to guide the understanding others form of the individual.
The central metaphor is theatrical performance, applied to social customs observed in detail. The book explains how people present themselves and their activities, aiming to shape and maintain the impressions others hold of them.
Key concepts
- Social performance — The act of presenting oneself and one's activities to others in social interactions.
- Impression management — The techniques individuals employ to guide and control the impressions others form of them.
- Social intercourse — The process of everyday human interaction and communication.
- Actor/Audience metaphor — The conceptual model of viewing social interaction as a theatrical performance where individuals play roles for observers.