Impression (Mis) Management When Communicating Success. Issue 5 (3rd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Steinmetz, Janina
• Is Part Of: Basic and applied social psychology. Volume 40:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 328
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03
• Subjects: Social psychology -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2018.1500289
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3533

Abstract

Abstract: People routinely engage in impression management, for example, by highlighting successes. It is not yet known how people attribute their success (to talent vs . effort) to give a positive impression. Three experiments explore this question and test whether people's attributions of success receive favor from their audience. The findings show that, in impression management situations (e.g., job interview or date), people communicate their effort less than audiences would prefer. Thus, success alone may not be enough to make a positive impression on others; emphasizing effort as the cause for success also matters.