Research Paper on:
Foucault And Goffman: Similarities To Each Other And Contrasts to Weber

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relates to a number of social, political, religious and economic factors is both grand and far-reaching; that Goffman and Foucaults perspective of power is different from Webers illustrates the magnitude  of interpretation associated with the concept. Goffman (1982) was not overly perplexed or concerned with the notion of power in the same way that, for example, Weber and other theorists  were; while he acknowledged its looming presence within the context of hierarchy and authority, he also recognized how these two elements are only part of the overall equation that constitutes  power. The second - and somewhat more important - component is that of social integration, which Goffman (1982) concluded was the basis upon which people/agencies/governments are either alienated or  harmonious. "It is in this context that we can reconsider some interesting aspects of the effect of coercion and constraint upon the individual. If an individual is to  act with proper demeanor and show proper deference, then it will be necessary for him to have areas of self-determination" (Goffman, 1982, p. 92). Similarly, Foucaults (1980) power/knowledge concept  intersects with Goffmans (1982) theory by way of further defining the relationship inherent to having power and possessing knowledge. This coupling - while perhaps more obvious than it actually  seems - illustrates how gaining knowledge in a particular area (such as in medicine or criminology) inevitably leads to the presence of power by virtue of the way each facet  augments the others presence. In short, this marriage of power and knowledge has a synergistic impact that far surpasses the ability of either on its own (Foucault, 1980).  Webers viewpoint enables one to understand how human nature is defined by myriad elements, not the least of which is the social need to