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Dramaturgical Action
The concept of dramaturgical action is associated with sociologist such as Jurgen Habermas, Harold Garfinkel, and Erving Goffman. Goffman defines dramaturgical action as “a social action that is designated to be seen by others and to optimize our public self-image.” Goffman’s ideas as a symbolic interactionist, focused on emphasizing a qualitative analysis of the component parts of the interactive process.

The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
In his book,The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Goffman explores a mass of interactions in which people in everyday life engage in certain types of performances of the self in a way similar to an actor portraying a character. He assumed that when individuals interact, they want to present a certain sense of self that will be accepted by others. According to the Ritzer book, in a lot of ways, Goffman credits his work on self to George Mead, “in particular his discussion of the tension between I, the spontaneous self, and me, social constraints within the self.” Goffman believed that people have two sides to them; the all-human self and the socialized self. The difference being what we do spontaneously and what we are expected to do according to people. In order to be both, a person must in some way, “perform for their social audiences.”

Goffman's Purpose
Goffman’s purpose for his theory of dramaturgical action was to explain international relations. He stated that actors in a cultural environment would often execute & influence presentations of self & framing while at the same time experiencing social & cultural constraints on strategic action due to their role requirements. In an international community, strategic actors are more than likely to commit to the community culture & act consistently with community values to remain in good standing.