According to renowned sociologist Erving Goffman, the world is one enormous stage while people are actors, under the concept of dramaturgy. Typically, the contention by Goffman is right about public presentations, such as speeches. However, Goffman argues that even at a micro-sociological level, people are still acting (Chapter 4). Human to human interaction under dramaturgy has two levels of frontstage and backstage. Just as in theatre, frontstage is all acting for the benefit of the audience, mainly of one. On the other hand, backstage is where the target audience is no longer watching, so the actor can relax and act naturally.
According to Adox (2004), a personal dating coach teaches clients about dramaturgy. The coach trains clients to make frontstage presentations and while still creating the impression that they are on backstage mode. The coach argues that dating is a game, and participants should know how to play it right, or they will miss out. However, the other party must not know that the date is acting. For example, the sampled client is always afraid and nervous during dates since she worries if the date would work out. The coach taught her to ignore the fear and act as is she is having a good time (Adox, 2004). Secondly, the coach thought that the client might have been too forward with the boys, which may have alienated them.
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Therefore, the coach taught the client to act as if she was more humble than she usually is as her dates will gravitate towards that. In her backstage, the client is an aggressive and assertive woman who is also nervous when dating (Adox, 2004). However, in her frontstage, she creates the impression of a humble girl who is having a good time. This instruction applies explicitly to this client alone. For every client, the coach seeks to establish why their dates have not been auspicious, then teaches them how to act in the right manner while on a date. However, the targeted audience needs to believe the act.
References
Adox, D. (2004, April 1). The personal dating coach [Audio]. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1805619
Textbook: Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction
