Lake_ Blog 6
Socializing and Saving Face
Goffman introduces an outline of the ideas of presentation of self
and all of the various factors that play a role in it in the articles Presentation of Self
andOn Face Work. The description given for presentation of self is the way
information or impression an individual conveys something about them. The
presentation of self concept directly links to the concept of “face”, which can
be thought of as a way a person views themselves (if I were you looking at me).
The various situations people find themselves in sets the stage for the “face”
they wear, or how they anticipate acting /reacting. Under
the general term “face”there are different ways to express it. Goffman expresses
to “save face” or be “shamefaced”are ways of coping with embarrassment, while
poise is a way to conceal it. In presenting one’s self, Goffman uses the term
“line” to describe the manner in which a person communicates information.
Goffman introduces the idea of the world as a stage and each person as actors. I
find this concept most interesting when applied to child socialization.
Many people enjoy the uncensored actions of children because it
is human nature in its purest form. However as time goes on and these children
become young adults; socializing is necessary for them to learn how they are
expected to act in any given social situation. Certain words/actions are
typically met with a certain response. Each child creates a way of viewing
themselves and form ideas about how others view them (presentation of self).
They learn how to communicate in a variety of ways in order to achieve a desired
response (line). Children are taught how to be embarrassed, to save face, and
eventually have poise in a situation as a response to the embarrassment.
Essentially they are actors that learn their lines and perform them in one way
or another to any given audience with the help of the process of socialization.
During a brows on youtube.com trying to find an example of
socializing children I came across a video of a little girl being socialized
against using “bad words”. The video shows a little girl age 3 describing her
reactions (towards another person I’m assuming) if they come into her home. She
steps outside of herself to analyze the situation and what the other person
would do given the opportunity. The scenario given by her mother in the video
sets that stage and defines the “face”for the young girl. She uses words and
facial expressions to communicate and emphasize her reaction. The last moments
of the video shows the mother actively socializing the child against her choice
of words. The girl then shows poise in concealing the fact that she had been
corrected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN1-uqt2WA
I was then challenged to find an example of socialization from
my own personal experience. Having two children of my own I recalled a situation
driving with my four and five year old daughters. The relationship here is
predefined as parent and child. I represent myself as an authority figure and
they represent themselves as fun loving kids. While driving I was speaking
candidly to myself as I nervously sped up through a red light.
Lake: Oops! I’m glad there was no red light camera there.
4 yr. old: Mommy what happened?
Lake: I accidently ran a red light. Just for future reference that’s illegal.
4 yr. old: (erupting in laughter) Mommy ran the red light!
5 yr. old: (joining in) Aaahhh haaa Mommy ran the red
light!
Lake: Alright, alright already…. Yes Mommy ran the red light. Just don’t repeat that.
Approximately a week later, we are yet again in the car, but
this time with my sister. My 4 yr. old erupts in laughter as we approach a red
light and shouts “Mommy do you remember when you ran the red light?!”.
This scenario shows many of Goffman’s concepts of face, line,
and poise. My perception of self at this point was non-congruent with my “face”.
I was wearing the mommy face, communicating candidly, and after being called out
on running a red light (accidentally) I had to “save face” in front of my
children. My attempt at socializing them was not truly working in my favor,
seeing as my 4 yr. old told on me after I instructed her not to. I was the agent
in teaching embarrassment,“saving face”, and trying to conceal it with poise.
With Goffman’s world as a stage concept, this shows how we are all actors.
Socializing and Saving Face
Goffman introduces an outline of the ideas of presentation of self
and all of the various factors that play a role in it in the articles Presentation of Self
andOn Face Work. The description given for presentation of self is the way
information or impression an individual conveys something about them. The
presentation of self concept directly links to the concept of “face”, which can
be thought of as a way a person views themselves (if I were you looking at me).
The various situations people find themselves in sets the stage for the “face”
they wear, or how they anticipate acting /reacting. Under
the general term “face”there are different ways to express it. Goffman expresses
to “save face” or be “shamefaced”are ways of coping with embarrassment, while
poise is a way to conceal it. In presenting one’s self, Goffman uses the term
“line” to describe the manner in which a person communicates information.
Goffman introduces the idea of the world as a stage and each person as actors. I
find this concept most interesting when applied to child socialization.
Many people enjoy the uncensored actions of children because it
is human nature in its purest form. However as time goes on and these children
become young adults; socializing is necessary for them to learn how they are
expected to act in any given social situation. Certain words/actions are
typically met with a certain response. Each child creates a way of viewing
themselves and form ideas about how others view them (presentation of self).
They learn how to communicate in a variety of ways in order to achieve a desired
response (line). Children are taught how to be embarrassed, to save face, and
eventually have poise in a situation as a response to the embarrassment.
Essentially they are actors that learn their lines and perform them in one way
or another to any given audience with the help of the process of socialization.
During a brows on youtube.com trying to find an example of
socializing children I came across a video of a little girl being socialized
against using “bad words”. The video shows a little girl age 3 describing her
reactions (towards another person I’m assuming) if they come into her home. She
steps outside of herself to analyze the situation and what the other person
would do given the opportunity. The scenario given by her mother in the video
sets that stage and defines the “face”for the young girl. She uses words and
facial expressions to communicate and emphasize her reaction. The last moments
of the video shows the mother actively socializing the child against her choice
of words. The girl then shows poise in concealing the fact that she had been
corrected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFN1-uqt2WA
I was then challenged to find an example of socialization from
my own personal experience. Having two children of my own I recalled a situation
driving with my four and five year old daughters. The relationship here is
predefined as parent and child. I represent myself as an authority figure and
they represent themselves as fun loving kids. While driving I was speaking
candidly to myself as I nervously sped up through a red light.
Lake: Oops! I’m glad there was no red light camera there.
4 yr. old: Mommy what happened?
Lake: I accidently ran a red light. Just for future reference that’s illegal.
4 yr. old: (erupting in laughter) Mommy ran the red light!
5 yr. old: (joining in) Aaahhh haaa Mommy ran the red
light!
Lake: Alright, alright already…. Yes Mommy ran the red light. Just don’t repeat that.
Approximately a week later, we are yet again in the car, but
this time with my sister. My 4 yr. old erupts in laughter as we approach a red
light and shouts “Mommy do you remember when you ran the red light?!”.
This scenario shows many of Goffman’s concepts of face, line,
and poise. My perception of self at this point was non-congruent with my “face”.
I was wearing the mommy face, communicating candidly, and after being called out
on running a red light (accidentally) I had to “save face” in front of my
children. My attempt at socializing them was not truly working in my favor,
seeing as my 4 yr. old told on me after I instructed her not to. I was the agent
in teaching embarrassment,“saving face”, and trying to conceal it with poise.
With Goffman’s world as a stage concept, this shows how we are all actors.