Self-Presentation

Self-Presentation:  The act of expressing oneself and behaving in ways designed to create a favorable impression or an impression that corresponds to one's ideals.  

 

I know a woman who likes to present herself to everyone i.e. coworkers, friends and family as someone who is conservative.  The representation that is perceived by others by her doing would be in places such as Facebook or at work.  On Facebook, a person can hide behind their computer and portray themselves the way they want society to see them.  At work, she is in an office all alone.  Rarely do her co-workers physically come into the office.  The office is more for the clients to pick up the checks, so again she can hide behind a phone and computer.  She likes for everyone to think she is a good person and would not talk about you behind your back.  In reality, she is none of these things.  She is manipulating, gossips, smokes cigarettes and uneducated (did not graduate from high school).

Self-presentation allows someone to present themselves to others with a desired image but not necessarily their true image.  They work at making excuses, justifying or apologizing to build up their self-esteem and solidify their self-images.  Social networks provide a new way for self-presentation.  People can be cautious with the pictures they post and what they post to their web page.  This behavior is seen in extreme situations as a narcissistic trait.

Myers, D. Social Psychology. 2012. The Self in a Social World, Chapter 2.  McGraw Hill. New York.