Using Impression Management Strategies

The theory of dramaturgy was coined by sociologist Goffman, who asserted that human
existence implies an unending game in which humans are the actors. Goffman argues that we are
forced into a drama known as everyday life at birth and that our socialization consists of learning
how to play our given roles from others (Quist-Adade, 2019). Our social contacts cause us to
want to control the pictures projected into those interactions, whether consciously or
unconsciously. Impression management is the term for this type of activity; it is the behavior
employed to preserve and develop a desirable image for oneself (Kuznecoff, 2012). The process
through which people strive to affect other people’s impressions of them is a typical explanation
given by academicians. Self-promotion, intimidation, ingratiation, supplication, and
exemplification are all impression management approaches.
The goal of the ingratiation approach is to make the other person like us or have a
favorable opinion of us (Kuznecoff, 2012). We process our behaviors and dress more
consciously in various contexts in order to achieve specific goals. A job interview, where first
impressions matter and we frequently want to present ourselves as a certain type of person or
potential employee, is an example of this type of impression management approach in action.
Another method is self-promotion, which presupposes that a person is a “self-promoter”
and seeks competence attribution, either in terms of general or specific competencies
(Kuznecoff, 2012). I employ conscious impression management, for example, when I walk into
my lectures every day. In a lot of circumstances, it’s quasi. The things I say, the clothes I wear,
and the manner I work are all influenced by how I want society to perceive me, rather than being
limited by my own decisions.

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In conclusion, suppose I go for an interview; I do not think I will alter anything because
I’m supposed to act professionally at work, and if I don’t, I might lose a job opportunity.
However, for another example, I’d like to mix things up a bit and employ some subconscious
impression management techniques. Even if I do, I will usually limit my actions since I believe
there is no conflict between what I “truly want to do” and what I want society to see me do.

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References

CrashCourse. (2017). Social interaction & performance. Crash Course Sociology #15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUukBV82P9A
Kuznecoff, J. H. (2012). Comparing impression management strategies across social media
platforms. In C. M. Cunningham (ed.), Social networking and impression management:
Self-presentation in the digital age [e-book]. New York: Lexington Books.
http://ezproxy.umgc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
=e025xna&AN=532480&site=eds-live&scope=site&ebv=EK&ppid=Page-__-13
Quist-Adade, C. (2019). Chapter 7: Erving Goffman and impression management. In Symbolic
interactionism: The basics.[e-book]. Vernon Press.
http://ezproxy.umgc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
=e025xna&AN=2174160&site=eds-live&scope=site&ebv=EB&ppid=pp_121