depression

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PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY (HUM‐101)

IMPRESSION FORMATION AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT

Impression formation and impression management are two important topics within social

perception. They are concerned with ways in which we influence others and help them to form

impressions about ourselves. We also behave in ways so as to alter other's perception, generally

in more positive ways towards ourselves.

1.1 INTRODUCTION:

Impression formation and impression management are interrelated topics having

considerable practical significance in our everyday life. We very quickly form impression of

people whom we meet. We also make attempts to create favourable impression on others, so as

to gain considerable advantage from them, such as an interview, assignment, getting our work

done, etc. We also attempt to influence how others would perceive us and form impressions

about us. In this unit we will discuss how impressions are formed and how we influence other's

impression about us.

1.2 IMPRESSION FORMATION AND IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT DEFINED:

Impression Formation: Impression formation deals with the processes involved in the formation

of impression about others. Impression Formation is the process through which we develop our

beliefs and evaluations of other people. It refers to the process through which we combine

diverse information about other persons into a united impression of them. Forming impressions

about others is an elaborate cognitive process. The initial or first impressions about others are

very important. It is rightly said that the "First impression is the last impression". The initial

impressions we make on others will generally shape the course of our future relations with them

in important ways. Once an impression is formed, it is generally resistant to change. Thus, it is

necessary to be careful on first dates, interviews and other situations in which we will meet

others for the first time. Large number of research studies have shown...