Final answer:
Goffman believed fronts are like a 'stage' in social interactions, where individuals use impression management to present themselves and perform roles based on the audience present.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erving Goffman argued that fronts tend to act as a 'stage' in social interactions. This concept is a crucial element of his theory of dramaturgy, where he proposed that we engage in impression management to present ourselves to others in a way we want to be seen. Each social situation is akin to a new scene where individuals perform different roles in front of different audiences.
Goffman's work builds on the ideas of Charles Cooley’s 'looking-glass self', suggesting that we develop our self-image based on how we think others perceive us, which in turn informs our role performance and societal behaviors. Behavior templates, or 'frames', help us to understand social events and the corresponding norms we should follow in each context.