Altercasting

Activity

1.) Everyone gets a label that states, “Hello, my name is...”

2.) Take the label and write a name that you have been
called in the past. It can be positive, negative, good, bad,
etc.
 What are we going to tell you today?

Daphne Pilcher Felicia Meyers Samantha Singletary

Definition and
History Labeling Theory
Two Forms

Nicholas Barnfield Kayla Steckler

A Prime Example
Jobs and Media Use
Conclusion
Daphne
 Shakespeare

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women

merely players;

They have their exits and

their entrances….
 Erving
The Presentation of Self in Goffman
Everyday Life
6/11/22 – 11/19/82

In social interaction

front stage
“actors” in front of the
audiences

back stage
get rid of their “role” in
society.
 Dramaturgical
The term was first adapted into
sociology from the theatre

People are actors who must convey

their personal characteristics

It is constantly remade as the

person interacts with others

Social interaction is analyzed as

part of a theatrical performance
 Role Theory
Usually shaped by
individual's status in a particular society

 Gender: man, woman, mother, father

 Societal: based on the social situations

 Genetic: come naturally to them: athlete

 Cultural influence: cultures place values

 Situation: outside influence: witness, hero

 In the 60’s

Some Dimensions of
Altercasting
EUGENE A. WEINSTEIN and
PAUL DEUTSCHBERGER
Sociometry
December 1963, Vol. 26,
No. 4

 people bring personal purposes

(MOTIVES) to interpersonal
communication

 pursuit of these purposes is the

“goal”
Felicia
 Altercasting
A strategy for persuading people by forcing
them in a social role, so that they will be
inclined to behave according to that role
 2 Forms of
Altercasting
Manded altercasting means that we ‘tell’
people who they are (or are supposed to be)
by making an existing role salient (‘You as a
Christian should….’), by placing others in a
particular role (‘You as a young ambitious
person should….’), by attributing a new
identity or role to someone, or by asking
people to play a role.
 2 Forms of
Altercasting
Tact altercasting means that we put
ourselves as senders in a role that ‘evokes’ a
natural counter-role for the other.
Samantha
Labeling Theory
 Deviance

Primary Deviance
Secondary Deviance
 Negative Altercasting
Positive Altercasting

Types of Altercasting
 Examples

“You should quit

drinking…”

“You should study because

you are smart.”

“You should stop smoking…”

“You should be an artist

“You should practice in because you draw
order to do well next well.”
game.”
All Information for Samantha’s Slides was taken fromhttp://www.manrilla.net/academics/2008/11/24/the-self-and-
altercasting/.

Effects on Self
Nicholas
Negative Altercasting used in
Advertising
Positive Altercasting used in
Advertising
 Positive Altercasting used in
Advertising

http://www.manrilla.net/academics/2008/11/24/the-self-and-altercasting/ and Google Images

Kayla
Example of Altercasting
The Breakfast Club
 Conclusion

the social role is a basic unit in people’s everyday condition.

presenting oneself in a social role that can be used to cast

the alter (tact altercasting) is relatively easy.

constructing roles that trap others in a course of action is

also relatively easy.

people often accept easily the social roles offered to them.

 Activity

So what was the significance of that activity?