MCAT Psychological Social Foundations Flashcards: 8c Self Presentation Impression Management

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on 8c Self Presentation Impression Management, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for MCAT Psychological Social Foundations.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which impression management strategy best fits: "I cannot do this; I need someone else"?

Answer: Supplication. Emphasizes inability to prompt others to help.

Flashcard 2: What is self-presentation in social psychology?

Answer: Strategic regulation of behavior to control others' impressions. People consciously adjust their behavior to shape how others see them.

Flashcard 3: What is exemplification as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Displaying moral worthiness or dedication to appear virtuous. Demonstrates integrity to gain moral respect and trust.

Flashcard 4: Identify the strategy: A student highlights awards to appear highly capable.

Answer: Self-promotion. Highlighting accomplishments is a tactic to convey competence and enhance one's image in evaluative contexts.

Flashcard 5: What is the looking-glass self?

Answer: Self-view shaped by perceived judgments of others. Cooley's concept shows how we internalize others' perceptions.

Flashcard 6: What is a face-threatening act (FTA)?

Answer: An action that challenges another person's desired social image. FTAs undermine the target's face, prompting defensive responses to restore social equilibrium.

Flashcard 7: What is the "presentation of self" in Goffman's dramaturgical theory?

Answer: Social interaction as performance; people act to shape audience impressions. Views social life as theater where people play roles for audiences.

Flashcard 8: What is self-verification theory in the context of self-presentation?

Answer: Preference for feedback that confirms one's existing self-concept. People seek feedback that matches their self-view, even if negative.

Flashcard 9: What is self-handicapping in impression management?

Answer: Creating obstacles to protect self-esteem if performance is poor. Provides excuses before failure to protect self-image.

Flashcard 10: Identify the strategy: A coworker stresses inability to gain assistance on a task.

Answer: Supplication. Emphasizing helplessness manipulates others into providing aid by evoking pity or obligation.

Flashcard 11: What is the "looking-glass self" concept?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by perceived judgments of others. Cooley's theory: we see ourselves through others' eyes.

Flashcard 12: What is the "back stage" in Goffman's dramaturgical perspective?

Answer: Private setting where people drop the performance and prepare. Where we can be ourselves without maintaining a public image.

Flashcard 13: Which impression management strategy best fits: "I stayed late to help the team"?

Answer: Exemplification. Shows dedication and sacrifice for the team's benefit.

Flashcard 14: What is the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice one's appearance or errors. We think others notice us more than they actually do.

Flashcard 15: What is the self-monitoring trait?

Answer: Tendency to adjust behavior to fit social situations and audiences. Reflects flexibility in adapting self-presentation to context.

Flashcard 16: What is a self-schema in the context of self-concept and self-presentation?

Answer: Cognitive framework organizing beliefs about the self. Self-schemas structure self-related information, guiding behavior and self-presentation in social situations.

Flashcard 17: Identify the concept: A person changes speech style across groups to fit in.

Answer: High self-monitoring. Shows adaptation to different social contexts.

Flashcard 18: What is intimidation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Projecting power or threat to influence others' behavior. Uses fear or dominance to control social interactions.

Flashcard 19: Which trait best describes a low self-monitor: situation-adaptive or value-consistent?

Answer: Value-consistent. Low self-monitors prioritize alignment with personal values and beliefs over situational adaptation in self-presentation.

Flashcard 20: What is self-promotion as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing competence or achievements to be seen as capable. Highlights abilities to establish credibility and respect.

Flashcard 21: What is ingratiation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using flattery or agreement to be liked by a target. Seeks approval through compliments and conformity.

Flashcard 22: What is the fundamental attribution error in the context of impression formation?

Answer: Overattributing others' behavior to traits and underweighting context. We judge others by personality but excuse our own situations.

Flashcard 23: What is intimidation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using threats or dominance cues to appear powerful. Creates fear to gain compliance and control.

Flashcard 24: What is the "back stage" in Goffman's dramaturgical model?

Answer: Private setting with relaxed performance and reduced impression control. Where authentic self emerges without audience pressure.

Flashcard 25: Which trait best characterizes a low self-monitor?

Answer: Behavior is consistent with internal attitudes across contexts. They act the same regardless of social context.

Flashcard 26: Identify the term: "I did poorly because I barely slept" said before an exam to protect self-esteem.

Answer: Self-handicapping. Creates excuse before performance to protect against failure.

Flashcard 27: Identify the concept: changing behavior to match a job interview setting.

Answer: Impression management (context-dependent self-presentation). Adapting presentation style to fit professional expectations.

Flashcard 28: Identify the impression management tactic: a student praises a professor to gain favor.

Answer: Ingratiation. Flattery aims to increase liking and gain favor.

Flashcard 29: Which concept best fits: "After a public mistake, someone apologizes to save face"?

Answer: Facework. Repairs social image after threatening one's dignity.

Flashcard 30: Identify the impression management tactic: "I stayed late to finish the report."

Answer: Self-promotion. Highlighting work effort shows competence.

Flashcard 31: What is self-monitoring?

Answer: Adjusting behavior to fit situational cues and social expectations. High self-monitors excel at this adaptive social skill.

Flashcard 32: Which self-monitoring level best fits: "I act differently with different groups"?

Answer: High self-monitoring. Shows strong adaptation to different social contexts.

Flashcard 33: What is the "front stage" in Goffman's dramaturgical perspective?

Answer: Public setting where people perform to create a desired impression. Where we actively manage impressions for our audience.

Flashcard 34: What is supplication as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Advertising weakness or neediness to obtain help or leniency. Elicits sympathy or assistance through helplessness.

Flashcard 35: What is supplication as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Presenting oneself as needy or weak to obtain help or sympathy. Exploits helplessness to elicit assistance from others.

Flashcard 36: Which trait best characterizes low self-monitors?

Answer: They act consistently with internal attitudes across contexts. Low self-monitors prioritize authenticity over social appropriateness.

Flashcard 37: What is impression motivation?

Answer: Desire to control others' impressions due to goals or outcomes. Drive to manage impressions for social or personal benefits.

Flashcard 38: Identify the concept: A student parties before an exam to preserve self-esteem if they fail.

Answer: Self-handicapping. Partying creates an external excuse for poor performance, safeguarding the individual's sense of competence.

Flashcard 39: What is self-promotion as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing competence or achievements to appear capable. Highlights skills and successes to demonstrate competence.

Flashcard 40: What is self-presentation, and what is its primary goal?

Answer: Behavior aimed at shaping others' impressions to achieve social goals. We actively manage our image to gain approval or achieve objectives.

Flashcard 41: What is the "front stage" in Goffman's dramaturgical model?

Answer: Public behavior tailored to an audience to manage impressions. Where social performances occur for specific audiences.

Flashcard 42: Identify the concept: "A person exaggerates résumé skills to appear competent."

Answer: Self-promotion. Strategy to appear competent by highlighting achievements.

Flashcard 43: What is ingratiation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using flattery or agreement to be liked by others. Making oneself likeable through compliments or conformity.

Flashcard 44: Which trait best describes high self-monitors?

Answer: Flexible behavior that shifts to match audience expectations. They adapt their presentation based on social context.

Flashcard 45: Identify the concept: feeling uneasy when behavior contradicts a "kind" self-image.

Answer: Cognitive dissonance. Discomfort when actions clash with self-concept motivates change.

Flashcard 46: Which trait best describes a low self-monitoring person?

Answer: Behavior is consistent and guided by internal attitudes. Low self-monitors maintain consistency regardless of social context.

Flashcard 47: What is intimidation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using threats or toughness to elicit compliance. Intimidation leverages fear or power displays to influence others' behaviors and perceptions forcefully.

Flashcard 48: What is exemplification as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Displaying moral worthiness or dedication to appear virtuous. Shows integrity to gain moral respect and trust.

Flashcard 49: What is the dramaturgical model of self-presentation (Goffman)?

Answer: Social interaction as performance with roles, scripts, and stages. Views social life as theater where we act out roles for audiences.

Flashcard 50: Which option best describes a high self-monitoring person?

Answer: Changes behavior across situations to match social norms. High self-monitors are social chameleons who adapt to context.

Flashcard 51: Identify the strategy: someone acts helpless so others will do tasks for them.

Answer: Supplication. Feigning incompetence to avoid responsibility or gain assistance.

Flashcard 52: What is the definition of intimidation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Projecting threat to gain compliance or deter challenge. Uses fear to control others' behavior.

Flashcard 53: Which pattern best describes a low self-monitoring person?

Answer: Behavior stays consistent across situations, guided by inner traits. Low self-monitors prioritize authenticity over social adaptation.

Flashcard 54: What is intimidation as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Projecting threat or power to make others comply. Uses fear to control others' behavior and gain obedience.

Flashcard 55: What is ingratiation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using flattery or agreement to increase being liked. Aims to be liked through compliments and conformity.

Flashcard 56: What is supplication as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Advertising weakness to gain help or avoid responsibility. Playing helpless to elicit sympathy or assistance.

Flashcard 57: What is cognitive dissonance, and how can it relate to self-presentation?

Answer: Discomfort from inconsistency; may shift attitudes to match presented behavior. Acting contrary to beliefs creates tension, changing attitudes to match acts.

Flashcard 58: Identify the impression strategy: A person stresses helplessness to avoid responsibility.

Answer: Supplication. Feigning weakness reduces expectations and obligations.

Flashcard 59: What is a face-saving behavior in impression management?

Answer: Action taken to preserve social dignity after a threat or mistake. Protects one's public image after embarrassment or failure.

Flashcard 60: What is the definition of back stage behavior in dramaturgical theory?

Answer: Private behavior when not performing for an audience. Goffman's term for authentic, unguarded moments.

Flashcard 61: What is the dramaturgical perspective on self-presentation (Goffman)?

Answer: Social interaction as performance: actors manage audience impressions. Goffman viewed social life as theater where we're all actors on stage.

Flashcard 62: What is ingratiation as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Using flattery or agreement to be liked by others. Aims to increase likability through praise or conformity.

Flashcard 63: Identify the strategy: A volunteer conspicuously displays sacrifice to seem ethical.

Answer: Exemplification. Public displays of virtue signal ethical character, aiming to inspire admiration and trust.

Flashcard 64: What is self-monitoring?

Answer: Tendency to adjust behavior to fit social situations and cues. Awareness of social expectations guides behavioral changes.

Flashcard 65: Which trait best characterizes a high self-monitor?

Answer: Behavior changes substantially across situations. They adapt their persona to fit different audiences.

Flashcard 66: What is the "back stage" in Goffman's dramaturgical model?

Answer: Private setting where people drop the public performance. Where we can be ourselves without an audience.

Flashcard 67: What is self-promotion as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing competence and achievements to gain respect. Highlights abilities to appear competent and worthy of respect.

Flashcard 68: What is exemplification as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Displaying moral worthiness or dedication to appear virtuous. Shows integrity and sacrifice to appear morally superior.

Flashcard 69: What is self-promotion as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing competence to gain respect or status. Highlighting achievements to appear capable.

Flashcard 70: Which option best describes a high self-monitor: consistent across situations or highly adaptable?

Answer: Highly adaptable across situations. Changes behavior based on social context and audience.

Flashcard 71: Identify the bias: "I aced the test because I am smart; I failed because it was unfair."

Answer: Self-serving bias. Credits internal factors for success, external for failure.

Flashcard 72: What is supplication as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing weakness or need to gain help or sympathy. Plays up helplessness to elicit assistance or pity.

Flashcard 73: What is the key difference between self-presentation and impression management?

Answer: Self-presentation is the goal; impression management is the strategy. Self-presentation encompasses the overall aim of projecting a desired self-image, while impression management refers to specific techniques employed to achieve it.

Flashcard 74: What is the self-serving bias in explanations of one's own outcomes?

Answer: Success to internal causes; failure to external causes. We credit ourselves for wins but blame circumstances for losses.

Flashcard 75: What is self-efficacy?

Answer: Belief in one's ability to succeed at specific tasks. Differs from self-esteem by being task-specific rather than global.

Flashcard 76: What does Goffman's dramaturgical approach propose about social interaction?

Answer: People perform roles to manage impressions in social settings. Social life is like theater with actors playing roles.

Flashcard 77: What is the difference between front stage and back stage behavior?

Answer: Front: public performance; Back: private self outside audience. Front stage is public persona; back stage is authentic self.

Flashcard 78: What is supplication as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Advertising weakness or neediness to obtain help or leniency. Exploits sympathy by appearing vulnerable or dependent.

Flashcard 79: What is self-promotion as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing one's competence or achievements to gain respect. Highlights abilities to establish credibility or status.

Flashcard 80: What is the definition of the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice one's appearance or actions. We think we're on stage when we're barely noticed.

Flashcard 81: What is self-monitoring?

Answer: Adjusting behavior to fit situational social cues. Adapting one's presentation to match the social context.

Flashcard 82: What is Goffman's dramaturgical model of social interaction?

Answer: Social life as performance: people act as performers before audiences. Views social interactions as theatrical performances with roles.

Flashcard 83: What concept describes people as actors performing roles for an audience?

Answer: Dramaturgical approach (Goffman). Views social life as theater where people play roles.

Flashcard 84: Which trait best characterizes high self-monitors?

Answer: They adapt behavior to match situational expectations. High self-monitors are social chameleons who prioritize fitting in.

Flashcard 85: What is intimidation as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Projecting threat or power to elicit compliance or fear. Uses aggression or threats to control others through fear.

Flashcard 86: What is the spotlight effect?

Answer: Overestimating how much others notice one's appearance or mistakes. We think everyone notices our bad hair day more than they do.

Flashcard 87: What is self-presentation as a component of impression management?

Answer: Behavior used to convey a desired image to others. The active process of managing one's public image.

Flashcard 88: What is the definition of the social self in Mead's theory?

Answer: The self formed through social interaction and role taking. Identity emerges from social interactions and roles.

Flashcard 89: What is self-promotion as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Emphasizing competence and achievements to gain respect. This strategy focuses on showcasing abilities and successes to establish credibility and admiration in others' eyes.

Flashcard 90: Which trait best describes a low self-monitor: guided more by internal traits or audience cues?

Answer: Guided more by internal traits and attitudes. Low self-monitors stay true to internal values regardless of context.

Flashcard 91: What is self-monitoring?

Answer: Adjusting behavior to fit situational cues and social expectations. Awareness of social cues guides behavioral adjustments.

Flashcard 92: What is supplication as an impression management strategy?

Answer: Displaying weakness or neediness to gain help or sympathy. Exploits helplessness to elicit assistance from others.

Flashcard 93: What is the definition of the looking-glass self?

Answer: Self-concept shaped by beliefs about others' perceptions. We see ourselves through others' eyes (Cooley).

Flashcard 94: What is the back stage in Goffman's dramaturgical model?

Answer: Private setting where people drop the public performance. Where we can relax and be ourselves without audience scrutiny.

Flashcard 95: What is the difference between front stage and back stage behavior in dramaturgy?

Answer: Front stage: public performance; back stage: private, unperformed self. Front stage is our public persona; back stage reveals our authentic self.

Flashcard 96: Which option best describes a low self-monitoring person?

Answer: Behaves consistently across situations based on internal traits. Low self-monitors stay true to themselves regardless of context.

Flashcard 97: What is exemplification as a self-presentation strategy?

Answer: Demonstrating moral worthiness (dedication, self-sacrifice). Shows integrity and sacrifice to appear morally superior.

Flashcard 98: Which pattern best describes a high self-monitoring person?

Answer: Behavior changes across situations to match social expectations. High self-monitors are social chameleons who adapt to contexts.

Flashcard 99: What does "face" mean in facework and politeness theory?

Answer: A person's desired public self-image in social interaction. One's social identity that needs protection in interactions.

Flashcard 100: Which statement best describes low self-monitors?

Answer: They behave consistently with internal attitudes across contexts. They prioritize authenticity over social conformity.