Two young men are on an elevator together.After briefly acknowledging each other's presence,they politely ignore each other for the remainder of the ride.Goffman would refer to this behavior as an example of:
A) backstage behavior.
B) civic inattention.
C) an opening signal.
D) a given-off gesture.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Civic inattention refers to the polite ignoring of others in public spaces, such as elevators, to respect each other's privacy and avoid imposing on each other's personal space. Backstage behavior refers to behavior that is not intended for public consumption, an opening signal refers to nonverbal cues used to initiate interaction, and a given-off gesture is a nonverbal cue that unintentionally reveals one's emotional state.

Two Young Men Are on an Elevator Together