impression management

Question 1

what is impression management

Answer 1

Attempt by the individual to control the views of other
members of the group through socially acceptable
behaviour, even if they do not habitually express such
behaviour (Leary, 1995)

Question 2

trying to be seen in a good light

Answer 2

• Vartanian et al., 2007; 2015.
• Consumption stereotypes
  ▫ Healthier diets: rated as more feminine, moral, as
  having a smaller body size, and being less fun.
  ▫ Smaller meals → femininity, physical attractiveness,
  leaner, neatness.
  ▫ Meat, masculinity and morality (Rozin et al., 2012;
  Ruby & Heine, 2011).

What about impression management?
* Lipschitz & Herman (2010)
▫ Threat to masculine identity →
increased intake of meat
* White & Dahl (2006)
▫ Males motivated to avoid feminine
foods
* Type and amount of food selected (Young et al., 2009)
* Role for relative consumption (Leone, Herman & Pliner
(2008).

These are mostly lab based studies- ecological validity

links to hetheringotn study as women ate less

Question 3

the why of impression management

Answer 3

1. Eating with strangers
   ▫ Possible explanation for reduced social facilitation
   with strangers
2. Job interviews
   ▫ Can/does our food intake convey personal
   characteristics that could be relevant to job
   performance?
3. Romantic relationships
   ▫ First date foods (Amiraian & Sobal, 2009)

Question 4

moderators of social facliation

Answer 4

Ruddock et al., 2019
* Systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies
* We eat more when we are with friends (29%-48%
larger compared to eating alone).
* Moderating factors may indicate impression
management
▫ Weight status, gender and food types.
▫ E.g., women eating smaller portions in front of men
(regardless of familiarity)
▫ Overweight people eat smaller portions when eating
with others compared to alone.

Question 5

how do social facuiliation and impression managment impact eating?

Answer 5

social faciliation increases intake, whilst impression management seems to moderate intake

social faciliation may be a result of distraction and a consequence of time extension

But impression management plays an important role especially when etaing with strangers

limited exploration of the contexts that can elicit impression management or wether or not these efforts are actually effective