Society is a stage, with people acting out performances. Good actors persuade audiences they really are the characters they are, just like people try to project a particular impression of themselves. People influence and manipulate the way in which others see them. Using impression management, individuals try to convince others are the identities that they are trying to assert. 'Symbols of identity' during socialisation process reveal how we see ourselves and how we want others to see us. e.g. the way people speak and the words they use, styles of clothing etc