Strategic Interaction

This book consists in two essays, one on "Expression Games:An Analysis of Doubts at Play" which deals with interpreting the intentions of the other when one cannot completely rely on their observable behavior. The second ' Strategic Interaction," centers on interpreting behavior in situations in which each player's action has effect on the other. Goffman here stresses how important the assessments we make of the behavior of others are in influencing our action. He places great emphasis on our assessment of real intention and action in the 'other' for our own behavior. Goffman is the great poet of the sociology of everyday life. He helps us see things about ourselves and our actions, which become obvious when we are told about them, but which we never really thought of ourselves.