Interpersonal scripting

The very possibility or necessity for creating interpersonal scripts transforms the social actor from being exclusively an actor trained in his or her role(s) by adding to his or her burdens of interaction the task of being a partial scriptwriter or adapter. Actors become involved in shaping the materials of relevant cultural scenarios into scripts for behavior in specific contexts. Often such improvisation may be seen as little more than institutionalized variations of existing scenarios. At other times, improvisation represents efforts at creating an interpersonal consensus, be it ever so temporary or uncertain of acceptance. Interpersonal scripts represent the mechanism through which appropriate identities are made congruent with desired expectations.