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Rewritten Paper on Impression Management In his book ‘The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life’, Ervin Goffman writes that even though the social masks which one creates are aimed at reflecting what a person admires and what he wants to be, they nevertheless contain a facet of his original true self. Goffman explains that impression management is a basic quality in all humans; every person automatically changes his or her behaviour in accordance with the situation that is being faced. However, impression management does not necessarily mean that one is being untrue to his personality.

This is something that is a result of expectations during social interactions. For instance, in general, young ones are much more respectful to elders than they are to peers. This, I believe, is not so much a part of their intrinsic personality than something that is expected from them in social environment. I disagree with Goffman’s argument on the differentiation of roles and identities. I do not think these need to be differentiated since both – the person one really is, and the person he aims to be perceived as – are fundamentally derived from the person’s original identity.

Human identity is a complex entity and is made up of a variety of things like one’s history, experiences, character, interests, etc. People may not just have two sides to them- one with a mask and one without. I believe that people have several different characteristics in them, and in an attempt to relate to others and not feel isolated, they bring out different sides of themselves in different social situations. Impression management is essential as it aids people in gaining a sense of respect and familiarity in foreign surroundings.

On the whole, it provides society with order and structure. Though self-expression individualism and important qualities, I believe that these need to be kept under control in certain environments, especially those which require professionalism from a person. Even if it is an interaction with one’s parents or close friends, a certain socially acceptable behaviour is required of everyone. Impression management is a technique that is always at work, except for the times when a person is completely by himself.

A common example of conscious impression management in a social environment is boarding school. When every year, a small group of new students enter the school, they interact with seniors who have already formed a closed community amongst themselves. In order to be accepted to this closed community, the freshmen change their mentalities and behaviour in a very short time. They start to exhibit only certain desirable qualities to others in public so as to become more compatible and fit in the already existing community.

I believe this is an intrinsic trait of human nature.