Behaving in social interactions being "more like animals" with primal urges or "more like actors playing a role in a theatrical production", refers to the nature vs. nurture argument in social sciences. According to this argument, behavior is predominantly determined by either our "nature" (biological predisposition or urges) or our nature (external social factors).
The way people behave in social interactions is usually a combination of both "animal" behavior (nature) and "actors playing a role in a theatrical production" (nurture) However, in modern society especially, behavior in social interactions is mostly "like actors playing a role in a theatrical production". In other words, behavior in social interactions is determined more by social factors rather than biological or "animal" behavior/urges. This is because depending on who we are interacting with, we adopt a different social persona. For instance, you behavior and social interactions with your boyfriend or girlfriend will vary greatly compared to your behavior and social interactions with your teacher, employer or grandparent. For different people you interact with, you put on a different social mask or persona like an actor playing a role in theater.
