The Presentation Of Self In Dating Shows

Based on Goffman’s dramaturgical approach, this study focuses on individuals’ self-presentation in the dating show If You are the One. Through text analysis and interview, the study investigates what impression individuals leave to their interaction partners and how they use verbal and nonverbal language and strategies to manage their self-presentation in the show. The study also explores love and marriage orientation presented in the show as well as some cases of performance disruption. The study shows that appropriate nonverbal language and self-disclosure will contribute to successful self-presentation; individuals tend to establish positive image through assertive self-presentation while manage their impression through defensive self-presentation when they intend to avoid image destruction or repair broken images; the show embodies healthy love and marriage values; performance disruption occurs occasionally, and initiative remedies by performers and others can help them to repair their images to some extent.