Some People Are Disturbed by Goffman's Work, Because It Seems

question 90

Multiple Choice

Some people are disturbed by Goffman's work, because it seems to suggest that no one is ever being honest about who they are. What would Goffman say to this?

• A) He would argue that, while people are always trying to deceive, they are rarely successful, and that deception isn't worth worrying about.
• B) He would say that regardless of who an individual feels herself to "really" be, she must still present that self; it is never self-evident.
• C) He would largely agree with this conclusion, suggesting that people are constantly seeking to deceive others in order to gain some advantage.
• D) He would argue that there are actually many circumstances when a person does not have to worry about presentation of self, and when others can tell what sort of person he is.
• E) He would suggest that people are almost never dishonest in their presentation of self.

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Definitions:

Medial Forebrain Bundle

A neural pathway in the brain involved in the regulation of reward, pleasure, and motivation.

Posterior Hippocampus

The region at the back part of the hippocampus in the brain, involved in memory formation and spatial navigation.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain, playing a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain responsible for higher brain functions, including thought, action, emotion, and reasoning.