Use of the dramaturgical metaphor in the measurement of self-monitoring

Factor analyses of the Self-monitoring Scale consistently reveal the acting ability factor to refer to performance in the sense of theatrical entertainment and to have little to with self-presentation in real-life interactions. A set of social acting items having face validity for ability to modify self-presentation in everyday life is shown to have very little in common with stage acting items of Snyder’s Self-monitoring Scale. The results point to the necessity of distinguishing between contingent and noncontingent self-presentation.