IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
Impression management is the deliberate, conscious or unconscious effort to shape how others see a subject, an item, or an event through the management of information shared in social situations.
Impression management is mostly used to establish or maintain social standing. This is also true in professional settings, as businesses rely on their social perception to persuade clients to work with them. Understanding you are more likely to succeed in impression management if you are personally motivated to do so.
It involves and consists of the processes by which people control how others perceive them. As human beings, we always want to ‘put our best foot forward’ when interacting with others and are careful when it comes to what others might think of us or view us. When we are motivated to manage our impression, it can ultimately lead to better opportunities and open new doors as well as allow us to make new connections etc. In order for us to understand this concept better, we can correlate impression management to self-branding; you are highlighting your positive aspects and characteristics while downplaying your negative ones.
In sociology and social psychology, self-presentation is the conscious or unconscious process through which people try to control the impressions other people form of them.
The goal is for one to present themselves the way in which they would like to be thought of by the individual or group they are interacting with. This form of management generally applies to the first impression.
Erving Goffman popularized the concept of perception management in his book, The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, where he argues that impression management not only influences how one is treated by other people but is an essential part of social interaction.
GOFFMAN’S IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT THEORY
Erving Goffman first conceptualized impression Management in 1959. The work was first published in “Presentation of Self in Everyday Life”. The concept was expanded in 1967.
Research on this topic developed in two different ways.
1. One of them focused on the factors that influence the kind of impressions that people try to convey to others.
2. The second path leads to different perspectives of the presentation.
These perspectives include
· conformity,
· aggression,
· leadership,
· stigma, and
· mental and physical health.
Conformity: Being accepted by a broader group entails conformity. You must (implicitly or openly) uphold the social expectations and standards of the group in order to conform. (EXAMPLE: For example, if your job may have a business-casual dress code, so cut-off jeans would feel out-of place.)
Aggression: Aggression, according to social psychology, describes any behaviour or act aimed at harming a person or animal or damaging physical property. A few examples of aggressive acts: acts of physical violence, shouting, swearing, and harsh language, gossiping or spreading rumours about a classmate.
Leadership: Psychological Leadership is choosing, preparing, and influencing followers of diverse talents, skills, and capabilities while fostering the follower’s self-efficacy, hope, optimism, and resilience.
Stigma: Stigma involves negative attitudes or discrimination against someone based on a distinguishing characteristic such as a mental illness, health condition, or disability. Social stigmas can also be related to other characteristics including gender, sexuality, race, religion, and culture.
When evidence and logical arguments are dismissed as irrelevant, meaningless, or unimportant, self-deception is taking place. Self-deception is when someone persuades themselves that something is true in order to keep their true identity a secret from the con artist. Everybody lies to themselves to some extent. But too much can be harmful. Try telling someone who thinks they are listening that they are not. It is impossible to make an impression on someone in a brief period of time if they are unaware of the false self-image they have. Don’t try to do it in the middle of a conversation. When this occurs, the dialogue is probably going to end in a yes-or-no debate.
Impression Management Techniques
Suppressing emotions: Maintaining self control (which we will identify with such practices as speaking briefly and modestly).
Conforming to Situational Norms: The performer follows agreed-upon rules for behavior in the organization.
Flattering Others: The performer compliments the perceiver. This tactic works best when flattery is not extreme and when it involves a dimension important to the perceiver.
Being Consistent: The performer’s beliefs and behaviours are consistent. There is agreement between the performer’s verbal and nonverbal behaviours.
Strategies for managing Impression
Self-Awareness
One of the most crucial components of successful IM and authenticity is self-awareness. According to a dramaturgical thesis put out by sociologist Erving Goffman, humans are essentially a composite of the different roles we take on.
Nevertheless, it is critical to feel valuable in your own skin. Who am I? What am I worth? What do I believe in? To avoid turning into chameleons who change to fit their environment, it is crucial to have a feeling of self-worth. It’s not always necessary to follow the crowd.
Consciousness
Our brain operates at full capacity when connecting with other people. Being a good listener and understanding other people’s perspectives are crucial skills to have in social situations. Numerous connections are made between for this reason various regions of the brain. Although it frequently occurs unconsciously, people should consider the effects of their words and actions. Self-disclosure is crucial to building relationships with other people. Nevertheless, we should exercise caution when disclosing too much information too quickly and always consider how others might respond to that knowledge.
Norms
There is a set of social rules, also called norms, that tell people how to behave in specific social situations. To create and maintain a positive impression, it is important to follow and respect these social norms. In addition, it is important to show that we have good manners and know how to behave in different and possibly challenging situations. Politeness is always a good impression management strategy because few people disapprove or have negative associations with politeness.
Optimism
Examining the value and application of positive thinking and positive affection in forming impressions can be very beneficial. A cheerful attitude, a smile, and pleasant energy are always preferable to a heated, negative environment. Leaders who are upbeat will be more persuasive and more likely to be regarded as effective. Managing your own perception is not always simple. It is important to consistently practise impression management to completely develop it, as with most social abilities.
Self-assurance
Although lacking self-assurance can be difficult to accept, there are social situations that call for bravery and tenacity. Consider a scenario where you are expected to converse with others. Without hesitation, the initiative to offer assistance or a thoughtful query. Furthermore, it’s critical to defend your beliefs or ideals. Being able to persuade others of your vision is extremely crucial when you are in a leadership position. The majority of people will accept your adherence to certain ideals or beliefs. But also, use common sense. Correct someone when they make a claim that conflicts with your personal views or way of doing things.
