ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in this book. The book begins with Goffman's application of the dual perspective, for it constitutes a central element in the development of a reciprocal analysis that stands out as one of the major and very few contributions to what should be the underlying assumption of every study of social interaction. It argues that Goffman's principle, grounding his analysis of the interaction order—namely, the need and warrant to treat face-to-face interaction in its own right—has been generally rejected without further analysis, mainly because of the underlying assertion of the loose coupling between social structure and immediate interaction. The book suggests the incorporation of "acting", in the Goffmanian sense of "performing", as a sociological category. It facilitates the appreciation of Goffman as a first-rank thinker through the recognition of his revolutionary legacy.
