Soft skills that will be acquired
Knowledge
- Dramaturgical Approach in Sociological Science
- Understanding Identity in digital context
- Social Media tools
Skills
- Active Listening
- Building Networks
- Planning and introducing change
- Conflict Management
Introduction
Erving Goffman is considered the most influential sociologist of the 20th century, focused on the analysis of the sociology of everyday life. His metaphorical approach to the world scene as a stage, called the ‘dramaturgical approach’, has been inspiring sociologists since the 1950s. His book ‘The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life’ has transformed sociological science bringing the attention to face-to-face interaction as a key element of studies of human identity and behaviour.
Many of his concepts are based on the theory of identity and how humans are a collection of various identities used in various situations (performances). According to Goffman, each person within the interaction is choosing an identity, which is validated by all the other participants of the interaction. When the person is in the interaction, she performs – placing herself on the front stage, using many ‘props’ that help her to build a credible identity. At the backstage, after or before the interaction, people tend to express more informal behaviours and roles.
In the 21st century, its context has been extended, and the methodology has been applied to the new technological world. His division on the front stage and backstage has gained new meaning in the social media times, where the digitised ‘front stage’ has been an important element of both our private and professional life. This training is aiming to implement Goffman theories and concepts in the digital sphere, to increase influence for women in the STEM fields.
At the end of this module, you will learn:
How to build strong networks using digital tools and social media platform like LinkedIn
How to recognise/apply the concept of various identity to the work context
How to manage conflicts using the sociological approach of stage and performance
How to contribute to leading positive change in the STEM field by applying the theory of identity through performance
The learning path will guide you through the different activities related to the topic.
At the end of this module you will find a self-assessment quiz with 5 questions that will help you in your learning process. In case you fail one or more questions, you can return back to the training materials and check the contents you need.
Documents/Articles:
- The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life,
- Erving Goffman (Book)
Videos and tutorials:
