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Example research essay topic: Side Of The Story Everyday Life - 1,248 words

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In the The Presentation of Self In Everyday Life, Goffman wants to show the reader how every person sets out to present himself or herself to the world around them, always trying to preserve the role they have selected for themselves, since those whom they meet not only try to decide what role it is you are playing, but also whether or not you are competent to play that role. More significantly, management of own impression during the communication process is a function of social setting. People perceive us based on how we present ourselves. They judge our character based on the first few words that roll off our tongue.

What you say can and will be held against you; that is the essence of the definition of self-presentation. The purpose of self-presentation is to have people perceive you in a way that is favorable towards you. The manner in which you present yourself should favorably influence the impression of you as a person both in character and integrity. Erving Goffman portrays peoples interactions as strategic encounters in which one person is attempting to sell a particular image established by himself or herself and, accordingly, a particular definition of the existing situation. The person refers to these activities as face-work. Beginning by taking the perspective of one of the interact ants, and he or she interprets the impact of that persons performances on the others and on the situation in general.

The person considers being in wrong face, out of face, or losing face through lack of tact, as well as diplomacy or social skill, the ways a person can at tempt to save face in order to maintain self-respect, and various ways in which the person may harm the face of others through faux pas such as gaffes or insults (209). These circumstances occur because of the existence of self-presentational rules. These rules, in turn, are determined by how situations are defined. As self-presentation goals tend to initiate a relationship, relational goals tend to maintain or manipulate it. Relational goals shape day-to-day activities between friends, co-workers etc.

In personal relationships the image that is desired depends on the type of relationship begin pursued. From the perspective of a male, in an intimate relationship I attempt to portray to the female my protected vulnerable side for the sake of being perceived as open. The way that I show this side of me varies; I employ several relational strategies such as openness and positivism. Sharing some of my most well kept secrets or simply telling a good story creates the intimacy and bond that allows us to communicate about our relationship on a level that is sought after in any close relationship. As an example consider a situation where I want to give my friend advice on a personal matter. A way of letting her know my intentions is for me to bring up a topic that leads into the discussion of my choice.

After opening the subject I ask her what she thought of the matter, after completely hearing her side of the story I then interject with my opinion. The reason I completely hear her side of the story is to give her a complete sense of comfort, which breaks down the communication barrier and makes it much simpler for her to open up and not flat out refuse my opinion. The way I handle this goal again relies heavily on the openness strategy, the more open my friend feels that I am with her, the more inclined she will become to open up to me. My primary goal is to have her accept my suggestion, whereas my secondary goal focuses on making her feel comfortable enough to accept my opinion without thinking of me as an outsider. This goal as with any other meaningful friendship goal is always worth pursuing. I feel that I have achieved and hopefully will continue to achieve new levels of closeness with friends using different strategies of relational maintenance that seem appropriate for each individual and their accompanying personality.

Relational goals are not merely for escalating relationships they can also signal ending or de-escalating a relationship. For instance, I found out that a former friend had been gossiping about me and helping to spread that gossip around my office. My goal afterwards was subordinate and painfully clear, I wanted to end our friendship. The tactic I used for this situation was anything but subtle, I wanted to terminate our friendship immediately and I had to plan the ending precisely. My plan was simply to confront him about his actions, and in a stern voice and demeanor inform him that I did not appreciate what he was saying about me and that due to his actions I no longer felt motivated to continue on with our friendship. The degree of difficulty of this goal had dropped significantly since I had nothing to lose, had I wanted to terminate the friendship for no reason it would have been much more difficult.

In Goffman's The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life introduction to the nourishment of the self in only normally problematic situations is very interesting concept being discussed, because in the social establishments that are part of everyday life, interaction with people who are well equipped and well inclined to collaborate in sustaining mutually agreeable definitions of self. People work their performance in order to help or provide others with the materials by which they infer that a creditable self confronts them. The self is seen as the product of the various means by which it is established and maintained. I recently had an argument with my friend, causing me to no longer desire to be her roommate, but I needed another place with rent that I could afford. I went to talk with another good friend to see if she knew anyone that would be able to accommodate me. My goal was a proximal one; it had to be immediate, after all I had to move out within a week.

My approach to this conversation was somewhat tactful, I simply stated that I was unhappy with my current roommate and opened up the floor for my friend to give her opinion. Of course her opinion was to move out, at that moment I interjected asking her if she knew any one that had an open room and was searching for a roommate. I used the social networks relational strategy to see if she was able to aid me in finding a roommate. She followed the direct path I laid out to aiding me in fulfilling my instrumental goal of recommending a roommate.

The steps I took were not very direct; they involved sub topics that would lead me to the information that I was after. According to Goffman, day in, day out our goals are accomplished whether were aware of it or not. To a novice goals are accomplished haphazard, a random instance; to the trained individual they are a feat of planning and strategizing all set into motion for the sole purpose of attainment of needs and wants. Through looking back and reflecting on my goals I have realized and mastered the different strategies I have employed throughout the last two days to achieve my certain needs. Achieving goals is similar to many acquired skills; only if time is taken to reflect on them will we be able to recognize our shortcomings and work on precise and effective strategies for improvement.


Free research essays on topics related to: everyday life, relational, side of the story, friendship, presentation

Research essay sample on Side Of The Story Everyday Life

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