Which approach views social interaction as if people are theatrical performers?

The correct choice is the dramaturgical approach, which was developed by sociologist Erving Goffman. This perspective likens social interaction to a theatrical performance where individuals present themselves in ways that are intended to create specific impressions on others. In this framework, people are seen as "actors" who play different roles according to the social context they are in, managing their expressions and behavior to convey a desired image or outcome.

This approach emphasizes the idea of front stage and back stage behavior. On the front stage, individuals perform in accordance with social norms and expectations, while on the back stage, they can be more authentic and relaxed, away from the scrutiny of the audience. This theatrical metaphor helps to illustrate the complexities of human interactions and the effort individuals invest in managing their social identities.

The other approaches mentioned are distinct in their focus. Symbolic interactionism centers on the meanings and symbols that individuals create through social interaction but does not specifically use the performance metaphor. Impression management, while related, refers more generally to the techniques people use to influence how they are perceived rather than framing the entire interaction as a performance. Social constructionism deals with how social phenomena develop in social contexts but does not employ the theatrical metaphor for understanding individual roles in interaction.