What is the process of providing information to others to present oneself favorably called?

The process of providing information to others to present oneself favorably is referred to as impression management. This concept, developed by sociologist Erving Goffman, emphasizes how individuals actively shape their social identities and facilitate perceptions through their behavior, communication, and presentation style in various social contexts.

Impression management involves various strategies, such as controlling the information shared, adjusting one’s appearance, and manipulating situations to create favorable perceptions among others. This process is crucial in social interactions where individuals seek to influence how they are viewed by peers, employers, or society at large, striving to create a positive image that aligns with their goals or societal expectations.

The other concepts do not align as closely with this definition. Role conflict pertains to the tension individuals experience when faced with competing demands from different social roles they occupy. Master status refers to a social status that holds particular significance for an individual, overshadowing other statuses they may possess. Dramaturgical analysis is a framework for studying social interaction that compares it to theatrical performance but does not explicitly cover the proactive management of perceptions as impression management does.