2.6:
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Given that a person’s outward presentation can affect how others perceive them, someone might attempt to control the impressions that another person forms about them.
For example, behind closed doors, an individual may lounge around, eat junk food, and binge-watch her favorite episodes. Conversely, when she steps into the public spotlight, she always parades around as a health-conscious athlete.
Such dramatic maneuvering, or impression management, is called self-presentation—the notion that people present themselves in the way they want others to see them. Relevant to the act is face—the public image that one wants others to believe.
Now, the degree to which people alter their interactions can vary through a process of self-monitoring—the tendency for someone to monitor their own behavior to fit the demands of the situation at hand.
For instance, one person, such as the health-conscious athlete, would be a high self-monitor. She changes her behavior according to the current condition.
On the other hand, a low self-monitor, in this case, her old boyfriend, is more likely to stick with his own preferences and dispositions, with minimal regard for what others think.
Over time, people can’t always live up to their favored public self. For example, perhaps a few colleagues ask her to join their competitive running club. To protect her desired self from public embarrassment—she’s never actually run a marathon before—she strategically “sprains” her ankle rather than trying and possibly failing to finish.
This setback is self-handicapping—the tendency to engage in self-defeating behaviors to have an excuse ready in case of potential failure or poor performance.
Needless to say, the widespread use of social media can also make it much easier to portray a particular face—one that may not be completely authentic and accurate—especially when physical features and appearances are at stake.
2.6:
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you behave around your coworkers versus the way you behave around your grandparents versus the way you behave with a blind date. Even if you’re not consciously trying to alter your personality, your grandparents, coworkers, and date probably see different sides of you.
As in a play, the setting matters as well. If you have a group of friends over to your house for dinner, you are playing the role of a host. It is agreed upon that you will provide food and seating and probably be stuck with a lot of the cleanup at the end of the night. Similarly, your friends are playing the roles of guests, and they are expected to respect your property and any rules you may set forth (“Don’t leave the door open or the cat will get out.”). In any scene, there needs to be a shared reality between players. In this case, if you view yourself as a guest and others view you as a host, there are likely to be problems.
Impression management is a critical component of symbolic interactionism. For example, a judge in a courtroom has many “props” to create an impression of fairness, gravity, and control—like her robe and gavel. Those entering the courtroom are expected to adhere to the scene being set. Just imagine the “impression” that can be made by how a person dresses. This is the reason that attorneys frequently select the hairstyle and apparel for witnesses and defendants in courtroom proceedings.
Self-Handicapping: A Strategy
People may not live up to the self that they want to portray. As a result, they can use a strategy called self-handicapping (Jones & Berglas, 1978). Self-handicapping is the tendency to engage in self-defeating behaviors to have an excuse ready in case of potential failure or poor performance. Have you ever stayed up late and partied before a big exam? That way, if you failed, you could blame fatigue and a hangover on your poor performance, rather than your ability.
This text is adapted from OpenStax, Psychology. OpenStax CNX.
Suggested Reading
Jones, E. E., & Berglas, S. (1978). Control of attributions about the self through self-handicapping strategies: The appeal of alcohol and the role of underachievement. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 4 (2), 200–206.