Winston was making a graded presentation in his phlebotomy class, delivered to an audience of other students and the professor. Erving Goffman would have referred to this behavior as characteristic of
a) front regions.
b) interactional vandalism.
c) back regions.
d) ethnos.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is a) front regions.
In Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy, he divides social life into two types of regions: front regions and back regions. The front region refers to the setting where individuals perform roles for an audience, typically in a formal or public setting. This is the “performance” aspect of social interaction, where people present themselves in a way that aligns with societal expectations. In the case of Winston delivering a graded presentation to an audience of students and a professor, he is engaging in behavior typical of a front region. He is performing a role as a student presenting his work in a manner that aligns with the norms of the class.
The back region, in contrast, is where individuals can relax and be themselves, away from the gaze of others, and engage in activities that would not align with their public “performances.” This could include behaviors such as practicing a presentation in private or informal interactions among classmates outside the classroom setting.
Interactional vandalism refers to situations where individuals disrupt or violate the normal social order, often in a subtle or unnoticed way, like interrupting a conversation or challenging authority. This concept doesn’t apply to Winston’s behavior, as he is engaging in a formal presentation, not disrupting the social order.
Finally, ethnos refers to a shared culture or group identity, which is not directly related to the situation described. Goffman’s framework focuses more on performance in social contexts than on group identity per se.
Thus, Winston’s behavior of presenting in front of an audience is an example of front region behavior, where he is performing a role and managing the impressions of others in a public setting.