Dramatization
Goffman elaborates, “The roles of prizefighters, surgeons, violinists, and policemen are cases in point. These activities allow for so much dramatic self-expression that exemplary practitioners—whether real or fictional—become famous and are given a special place in the commercially organized phantasies of the nation.” Dramatization in the above jobs enhances their performance. The professions outlined above are deemed classic due to dramatization of their professions which require some bit of performance. Therefore, dramatization is an integral component of the careers above.
Prices
Goffman elucidates, “Merchants, too, often find that they must charge high prices for things that look intrinsically expensive in order to compensate the establishment for expensive things like insurance, slack periods, etc., that never appear before the customers' eyes." The high prices are useful in dramatizing the perceived status of the commodities. However, the merchants exploit the dramatization to cater for the indirect costs which the customers may not be cognizant of. Dramatization, through high prices, is intended to appeal to the customers' psychology.
Derogation
Goffman writes, “When the members of a team go backstage where the audience cannot see or hear them, they very regularly derogate the audience in a way that is inconsistent with the face-to-face treatment that is given to the audience…there are very few friendship relationships in which there is not some occasion when attitudes expressed about the friend behind his back are grossly incompatible with the ones expressed about him to his face.” Derogation is common in various relationships. The tendency to indulge in derogatory utterances is attributed to absence. Team members would find it difficult to speak ill of their audiences because it would automatically turn off the audiences; hence, the derogation occurs at the backstage. Moreover, backbiting is expected in insincere friendships; hypocritical friends would pretend to adore one but speak ill of him/her behind their backs. Such friendships are comparable to dramatic performances.
“Business Etiquette”
Goffman expounds, “Business etiquette, perhaps more concerned with strategic secrets than with moral ones, offers the following suggestions:…Guard your end of a phone conversation if an outsider is within earshot. If you are taking a message from someone else, and you want to be sure you’ve got it straight, don’t repeat the message in the usual fashion.” The etiquette ensures that communication between entities is professional and not misunderstood. Upholding etiquette would increase the odds of having a meaningful engagement that would not discourage one party from entering into business with another in the future. Implementation of business etiquette is tantamount to performance which gives a positive impression to existing and potential business partners and customers.
Ego
Goffman observes, “When we examine a group or class, we find that the members of it tend to invest their egos primarily in certain routines, giving less stress to the other ones which they perform. Thus a professional man may be willing to take a very modest role in the street, in a shop, or in his home, but, in the social sphere which encompasses his display of professional competency, he will be much concerned to make an effective showing." Egos dictate the performances in which individuals participate. The intention of performances would be to mollify the egoistical desires especially those which depict one's social standing in the society. Furthermore, the individuals engage in performances to uphold their reputations and eventually the performances become mundane engagements in their lives and their behaviors.
