Final answer:
Goffman would assert that keeping disagreements secret is an act of impression management, akin to a performance on a stage, as part of his theory of dramaturgical analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erving Goffman, a prominent sociologist known for his work on symbolic interactionism and dramaturgical analysis, might describe romantic partners collaborating in public to conceal private disagreements as engaging in "impression management" or "facework."
In Goffman's framework, individuals engage in impression management to control the impressions others have of them. When applied to social interactions, especially in public settings, people actively manipulate their behaviors, words, and expressions to present a particular image or preserve their social "face."
In the scenario described, the partners collaboratively concealing their private disagreements in public are participating in impression management. By presenting a united front and avoiding public displays of conflict, they aim to maintain a positive or harmonious image of their relationship to others. This effort aligns with Goffman's concept of facework, wherein individuals work together to preserve their mutual face or the collective image they want to convey to others, even if it contrasts with their private realities.