Erving Goffman was Canadian and lived from 1922 to 1982. He studied sociology and psychology in terms of how interaction influenced society and culture. He wrote The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life in 1956 where he used the theater as an analogy to explain social interaction by referring to performers, roles, audience, actors, and the influence of situation when 'performing' daily life. He also used the theater analogy to talk about the location of interactions. In life, people were sometimes out front performing on stage, and at other times took more of a backstage role.

Goffman also explored face-to-face interaction using the dramaturgical approach which focuses on the analysis of micro sociology. The details of smaller social interactions that are concerned with self-image are studied along with the perceived reactions to them.

In 1961 Erving Goffman published a book of essays about institutions and mental patients. Subjects focused on the social aspects of mental illness from the point of view of the patients by looking at the different and particular social interactions that occur in an institutional environment.

Goffman's work draws on many influences and references, and in turn his own work is considered to be important partly because of this. His approach and theories are recorded in an extensive collection of books and written works that explore social interaction on many levels including speech, gender, and non-verbal communication. His later studies and definitions are clear and often offer well-defined types or categories as starting points. This also makes his work more accessible to those who may be interested in sociology, but are not studying the subject.

There seems to be a lack of information about the man himself aside from references about an interest in the stock market and casinos, but there are many resources that refer to the people and works that inspired him, and his own works that inspired others. Today his studies are commonly cited or used as reference, and his work is still seen as conclusive and relevant to the subject.

By Matt Sheen June MMXX - See video playlist for references

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