Impression Management

Everyday we make impressions on people we do know and on people we do not know. Impression management is a process through which, in interaction, we try to control how other people perceive us. As you already know, people often present themselves in a manner to try and look better. Studies have shown that people use impression management to influence others, and that it eventually affects the overall quality of one's life. Impression management is used whether we know it or not. Impression management explains that when you have the opportunity to tell someone about yourself, what you choose to say is heavily influenced by the kind of impression you would like others to have of you.

For the data workshop, I went to Chick-fil-A. In many situations, I experienced people to be anxious to receive their food so it was hard to continue a conversation with them. A few people seemed to be more interested with the cashier's attention because the cashier was in charge of the food (their goal). Also, a mother was very distracted by her children running in the restaurant. It was very hard to talk to teenagers because a lot of them came with groups and were talking amongst themselves. Each time I went up to someone, he or she had a certain look on his face that showed confusion. People are so accustom to going about their day in solitude if they do not know anyone else. Although most of them did not mind me talking to them, there were still people who obviously did not care for someone to come up to them and hold a simple conversation. In this data workshop, the region affects my presentation of self there because people do not care whether they meet anyone at Chick-fil-A or not. Being in a restaurant, there were a lot of conversation starters because you two already have something in common for the get go... food. I noticed that adults and teenagers are both more likely to talk about food rather than giving directions.

Often, the location can influence the impression we might give. It also strengthens it because you have something to bond over (both going to a certain place). Backstage is defined as the dramaturgical perspective, places is which we rehearse and prepare for our performances. I believe that every time before we initiate the conversation, that is the backstage and rehearsal of what is going to come. I, for one, do not like to be put on the spot so I rehearse what could be asked in the conversation. The impressions themselves are the frontstage, also known as the dramaturgical perspective, the region in which we deliver our public performances. While I was walking in the direction towards the subject, he did not acknowledge me since he expected I was going to get a straw or napkins. When I got to him, he politely moved over so I could get the utensils. That encounter stood out because I thought it was funny that he automatically thought I was getting a utensil and was not going to strike a conversation with him. In this situation, many of my subjects did not have time for a personal front. Since they did not know that I was going to be talking to them, they did not have time to change their appearance or dress. Most of the subjects had time to change their manner though. There were teenagers goofing around with their friends and when I came over, they quickly changed to a calmer manner. I think they were trying