PSY 350 Lecture 6 (SELF-PRESENTATION)

Self-Presentation

The attempt to control others' impressions of ourselves, also known as impression management.

What do people try to convey when self presenting? (Dramaturgical perspective)

Individuals self-present to convey specific impressions to fit audience expectations, aiming to appear genuine, relatable, and worthy of approval. They adjust behavior, language, and attire as strategies to enhance the desired impression.

Why People Self-Present

1. Appear Likeable 2. Appear Competent 3. Appear Powerful/High Status 4. Appear healthy/attractive/etc

The Spotlight Effect

The tendency to believe that others are paying more attention to us than they actually are.

High Self-Monitors

Individuals who are highly aware of their public image and adjust their behavior according to the situation.

Ingratiation Strategies

Strategies used to appear likeable, including pretending to like someone, creating similarity, and projecting modesty.

Self-Presentation Strategies for Competence

Strategies such as staging performances, claiming competence, and making excuses for failures to appear competent.

Conveying Status & Power Strategies

Strategies that include displaying artifacts of status or power, conspicuous consumption, and nonverbal dominance displays.

Lie Detection

The ability to accurately identify when someone is lying, which research shows is generally difficult to achieve.

Multiple Audience Dilemmas

Situations where an individual attempts to present different impressions to different audiences.

Polygraph Testing

A method often used for lie detection that shows poor accuracy and can be influenced by the emotional state of the subject.

Self-Monitoring

The tendency to adjust one's behavior to fit social situations, which can influence self-presentation.