Impression Management:

Impression management is how we control others’ perception of us by selectively presenting our public image through how we behave. This concept, originally from sociology, involves two main components: impression motivation (desire to influence how others see us) and impression construction (how we build that image). We do this to gain social rewards, enhance self-esteem, achieve goals like getting a job, or to align our internal and public selves. It can be both a conscious, deliberative process, as in dressing carefully for a job interview, or an unconscious, automatic process, like instinctively smiling or standing up straighter when meeting others. We do this through verbal and nonverbal cues, selective disclosure (what to share vs conceal), self-promotion, flattery, conformity, or psychological connection (to reduce discomfort of acting in a way that contradicts our beliefs).