Why Does It Matter How We Present Ourselves To Others

Why Does It Matter How Present Ourselves To Others People Know You

Why does it matter how present ourselves to others? People know you and judge the “you” who communicates with them, not the “you” you keep inside. Self-presentation involves the process of packaging and editing the self to create a certain impression upon the audience (Goffman, 1959). Impression management involves two key processes: impression motivation and impression construction (Leary & Kowalski, 1990). When communicating with others, you present a public self—what you want others to see or know—which can vary across different contexts, relationships, and moments. This public self is often referred to as the "face," a concept introduced by Goffman, which symbolizes the public image or persona you want to project. People develop different "faces" suited to specific social situations, and these may or may not align with their private self, leading to the use of masks—public selves designed to strategically veil the private self. Masks can be used to inflate perceptions or deflate perceptions of oneself, depending on the social context.

Losing face occurs when information is revealed that contradicts the face one wishes to project, leading to feelings of shame, humiliation, and sadness. This can also cause others to question the authenticity of the public self, emphasizing the importance of "saving face." Face work encompasses the strategies individuals employ to negotiate and maintain face, including verbal and non-verbal behaviors, avoidance, and correction, not only concerning one's own face but also considering others' faces. Different social media platforms—such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn—serve as venues where these face behaviors are enacted, often adopting various "faces" depending on the platform's purpose and audience.

In computer-mediated communication (CMC), the Hyperpersonal Model (Walther, 1996) explains why online relationships can sometimes be more intimate than face-to-face interactions. This model posits four components: selective self-presentation, idealization, channel management, and feedback. Selective self-presentation in CMC allows users to present more curated, malleable versions of themselves, revealing only attitudes or aspects of the self they wish to disclose while concealing others. People often create multiple selves—true self, real self, hoped-for self—especially on social networking sites (SNS), where the online environment influences identity expression (Zhao, Grasmuck, & Martin, 2008). The true self is expressed in anonymous environments without social constraints, whereas the real self conforms to social norms in face-to-face interactions. The "hoped-for" self is an idealized version users aim to project (Baym, 2010). Often, presenting one's ideal self is a form of self-enhancement rather than deception.

SNS platforms interconnect online and offline identities, influencing perceptions and social interactions. Users micromanage their profiles—selectively presenting faces, social circles, relationships, material possessions, interests, and activities—to shape an online persona aligned with desired identities. However, face threats can occur when others post content that embarrasses or contradicts one's desired image. For instance, untagging photos is a common impression management tactic when a user perceives that a tagged image is not consistent with their desired self-presentation or they dislike how they appear. The warranting principle explains how people form judgments about others based on online information, giving more credence to content that is externally verified by others rather than self-posted content (Walther & Parks, 2002).

Paper For Above instruction

The way individuals present themselves in social contexts—whether through face management, masks, or online identities—is fundamentally intertwined with human psychology and social norms. This essay explores the significance of self-presentation and impression management, particularly emphasizing the role of digital platforms in shaping identity perceptions. Drawing from Erving Goffman’s theory of face and mask, as well as Walther's Hyperpersonal Model, this paper discusses how online environments afford unique opportunities for curated self-presentation, which can both enhance and threaten personal and social identities.

Self-presentation is crucial because it mediates social interactions and influences the way others perceive and evaluate an individual. Goffman (1959) posited that human beings perform roles much like actors on a stage, adjusting their appearance, language, and behavior depending on the audience and setting. This dramaturgical perspective underscores the importance of impression management, which involves the conscious and unconscious efforts to influence others’ perceptions of us (Leary & Kowalski, 1990). In real-life interactions, face plays a central role as a symbol of social value and identity. Maintaining face involves managing one’s demeanor, words, and actions to uphold a desired social identity. When face threatens occur—such as through uncomfortable disclosures or embarrassing content—individuals employ strategies of "saving face" via face work, including apologies, avoidance, or correction (Goffman, 1967).

With the advent of digital communication platforms, traditional face-to-face interaction is complemented, and sometimes replaced, by computer-mediated communication (CMC). Walther's (1996) Hyperpersonal Model offers a framework for understanding online self-presentation, illustrating how people can craft idealized personas through selective self-disclosure, channel management, and feedback. Online, users possess greater control over the information they share and how they present themselves, often engaging in self-censorship and emphasizing desirable traits (Walther, 1997). This selectivity allows for the creation of multiple selves—true, real, hoped-for—each serving different social functions or satisfying different psychological needs (Zhao, Grasmuck, & Martin, 2008).

The construction of online identities is a deliberate process aimed at fostering positive impressions and avoiding face threats. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn enable users to curate diverse faces corresponding to different social roles—professional, personal, or aspirational. These curated profiles include images, posts, likes, and connections, which collectively communicate a narrative of the self. The phenomenon of "masking" online is particularly prevalent, as users frequently display idealized versions of themselves, hiding flaws or less favorable traits. This strategic presentation aligns with Goffman’s notion that performance is often less authentic than it appears but serves a necessary social function.

Nevertheless, managing online faces also involves risks. The untagging of photos or deleting content is a common tactic to control perceptions (Toma & Hancock, 2013). For instance, users may untag images that depict them in an unflattering light or that do not align with their desired self-image. Engaging in such impression management tactics is essential for safeguarding one’s reputation and self-esteem, especially in environments where content is easily accessible and shareable. Furthermore, the warranting principle suggests that people tend to trust information about others when verified by external sources, such as friends’ comments or tags, which can bolster or undermine perceptions (Walther & Parks, 2002).

Online identities are not static; they influence and are influenced by external feedback, social norms, and cultural expectations. The constant negotiation of face and masks in digital spaces reflects broader human tendencies toward impression management and self-preservation. As social media continues to evolve, understanding these processes becomes increasingly vital to comprehending contemporary identity construction. Whether online or offline, the protection and performance of face remain integral to social cohesion and individual well-being, underscoring that how we present ourselves to others fundamentally matters in shaping social realities and our personal identities.

References

• Erving Goffman. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Anchor Books.
• Goffman, E. (1967). Interaction Ritual: Essays in Face-to-Face Behavior. Anchor Books.
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• Walther, J. B., & Parks, M. R. (2002). Cues filtered out, cues filtered in: Computer-mediated communication and relationships. In M. L. Knapp & J. A. Daly (Eds.), Review of Personal Relationships: Perspectives on the Management of Intimate Relationships (pp. 529–561). Psychology Press.
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