The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life

When an individual enters the presence of others, they common­ly seek to acquire information about him or to bring into play infor­mation about him already possessed. They will be interested in his general socio-economic status, his conception of self, his attitude to­wards them, his competence, his trustworthiness, etc. Although some of this information seems to be sought almost as an end in itself, there are usually quite practical reasons for acquiring it. Information about the individual helps to define the situation, enabling others to

know in advance what he will expect of them and what they may ex of him. Informed in these ways, the others will know how best to actin order to call forth a desired response from him.

For those present, many sources of information become accessible and many carriers (or «sign-vehicles») become available for conveying this information. If unacquainted with the individual, observ­es can glean clues from his conduct and appearance which allow them to apply their previous experience with individuals roughly similar to the one before them or, more important, to apply untested stereotypes to him. They can also assume from past experience that only individuals of a particular kind are likely to be found in a given social setting. They can rely on what the individual says about him­self or on documentary evidence he provides as to who and what he is. If prior to the interaction, they can rely on assumptions as to the persistence and generality of psychological traits as a means of pre­dicting his present and future behaviour.

However, during the period in which the individual is in the immediate presence of the others, few events may occur which di­rectly provide the others with the conclusive information they will need if they are to direct wisely their own activity. Many crucial facts lie beyond the time and place of interaction or lie concealed within it. For example, «true» or «real» attitudes, beliefs and emo­tions of the individual can be ascertained only indirectly, through his avowals or through what appears to be involuntary expressive beha­viour. Similarly, if the individual offers the others a product or ser­vice, they will often find that during the interaction there will be no time and place immediately available for eating the pudding that the proof can be found in. They will be forced to accept some events as conventional or natural signs of something not directly available to the senses.

(«The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life» by Irving Goffman)