impression management

behaviors intended to control how others perceive oneself, especially by guiding them to attribute desirable traits to oneself. Typically, it is assumed that people attempt to present favorable images of themselves as a means of obtaining social rewards and enhancing self-esteem. Impression management has been offered as an alternative explanation for some phenomena that traditionally have been interpreted in terms of cognitive dissonance theory. Some psychologists distinguish impression management from self-presentation by proposing that impression management involves only deliberate, conscious strategies. [first described in 1959 by Canadian-born U.S. sociologist Erving Goffman (1922–1982)]

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

I statement

a communication tool in which the first person pronoun is used in talking about relationship issues. Therapists may coach clients to use “I” instead of “you” in statements, such as, “I am bothered by your habit” rather than “You have a bad habit” (which is a you statement). I statements tend to reduce the negativity and blame directed toward the other person and put the ownership of the issue with the speaker, not the listener.