Erving Goffman was influential in developing theories about social behavior, focusing on how individuals present themselves in everyday interactions. His seminal work, *The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life*, likens social interactions to theatrical performances, where individuals adopt various roles depending on their audience. Goffman's concepts of stigma and total institutions further explored how social structures shape behavior and identity. His sociological insights have profoundly influenced fields such as psychology, communication studies, and cultural studies, paving the way for further examination of social dynamics.