Japanese Sociological Review
Online ISSN : 1884-2755
Print ISSN : 0021-5414
Self as Drama
Self-Presentation and Self-Transformation
Katsutoshi Kirita
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Volume 39 (1988-1989) Issue 1 Pages 45-58

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Abstract

The concept “self”, as G.H. Mead and E. Goffman showed, has dramatic implications. And the concept self as drama is represented by self-presentation and self-transformation.
The self-concept is situational. It can be understood in relation to the social situation in which an individual experiences and acts. A self is composed of “Me” and “I”. The self-concept as drama focuses on selves as multiple functions, too. Through its multiple functions an actor presents selves, which are transformed.
The presented self as an actor's official image can be transformed by it's actor as well as others. In generally, the actor will try to maintain his official image and to take distance from his official image that constrains him. For his sense of selfhood arises through taking distance from the constraints. In short, the actor will try to work out distance-taking transformations from his official image and to present distance-taking selves. Moreover, he is engaged in a number of invisible or untangible self-presentations and self-transformations behind some visible or tangible self-presentations and self-transformations.
This self-concept as drama shows that an individual presents selves under situational constraints, and is subject to transformation in relation to them, and that we must see both socially constrained aspects and human, subjective aspects.

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