Final answer:
Mike might defend his elaborate grooming routine by using Goffman's dramaturgy and impression management, where grooming becomes a way to shape others' perceptions and reactions in different social contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Erving Goffman's concept of dramaturgy explains how Mike might defend his elaborate grooming routine. Goffman believed that people engage in impression management through a process akin to performers in a play, tailoring their self-presentation to influence how they are perceived by others, a concept building upon Charles Cooley's looking-glass self. Each social interaction is perceived as a stage wherein individuals perform and manage impressions, often by controlling their appearance and behavior to fit the situation and audience, whether it's with coworkers, a date, or family.
Mike, therefore, might justify his grooming routine by highlighting the social expectation to present oneself a certain way. He would understand that his appearance can significantly impact the reactions of others, which in turn shapes his social encounters and his self-identity. By preparing his hair, wearing makeup, or using cologne, Mike is consciously or subconsciously performing for the social 'audience,' aiming to control the impressions he makes, thereby navigating social situations more effectively.