Self-presentation Styles Research Articles

RIVAL SONS OF THE FATHER: LUCIFER AND JESUS

Although the following essay is literary-philosophical, it arose from a practical interest. I have been struck by how widespread today is the complaint about the ‘inadequate father’. Of course a father may be inadequate in diverse ways, either absconding, absent and weak, or overbearing, tyrannical and bullying, or some combination of these. Further, I am not restricting the term ‘father’ to its narrow biological sense, but using it rather as a metaphor for any institution or structure which an individual or a group feels should have been in place to guide, direct, and protect them in important situations, but did not do its job properly. Consequently they are willing to concede they are not all they could have been, but they insist it is not their fault, rather the fault of the ‘father’ who should have done his job better. This ties in with the fashionable appeal of ‘victimhood’. Everybody today seems to want to cast themselves as a ‘victim’, for reasons similar to those mentioned above. If you are a ‘victim’, then there must have been an ‘oppressor’– and some ‘parent’ organization that should have guided, directed, and protected you against the oppressor, but again did not do its job adequately. It is striking how many individuals and groups around the world choose to perceive themselves, and to present themselves to others, as ‘victims’; it has indeed become the preferred characterization of our age, for it carries with it a rhetoric that trumps all others. If you are able to cast yourselves as a ‘victim’, and have others accept this, you disarm and neutralize criticism, not only of what you are, but of what you are currently doing – because the latter is a just ‘compensation’ for what you have suffered. As with guilt, there is no built-in limit or statute of limitations. This rhetoric was not as established thirty or forty years ago. Where did these terms, and this style of self-presentation and arguing, come from? They didn't fall from the sky or materialize out of thin air. The following essay is an attempt at ‘intellectual archaeology’, that is, to lay bear and lift up the strand in the intellectual tradition that was mined to produce these categories and justify this way of construing our situation; thereby to expose a serious and surprising presupposition or ‘archetype’ behind this rhetoric and to place this at arm's length alongside an alternative foil, to allow us to decide dispassionately whether we want to be committed to the former.

‘The purpose of these acting exercises’: the Actors’ Studio and the labours of celebrity

Celebrity studies has paid attention to the post-modernisation of identity in contemporary celebrity culture; but the ways in which modern discourses of acting-as-work have persisted vis-à-vis larger socio-cultural shifts in both labour and self-performance deserve closer attention. Drawing upon the work of Luc Boltanski and Eve Chiapello and Ernest Sternberg, this essay explores the shifting styles of self-presentation that are bound up with the history of the Actors' Studio's star and celebrity texts, paying particular attention to the ways in which ‘Method’ actors have been represented as workers. It first argues that the self-presentational style inscribed by the promotional and pedagogical discourses of Method acting circa 1955 can be located within a distinctly modern performance paradigm. It then considers how, although a similar style of self-performance seems to be articulated on the television series Inside the Actors’ Studio (ITAS) the programme's evocation of the Studio's brand of authenticity is, rather, a pastiche performed according to the logic of what Andrew Wernick has called ‘promotional culture’. Thus, whereas the discourse around the Studio in the 1950s positioned Method celebrities as efficiently authentic stars and actors (cf. deCordova), ITAS is concerned ostensibly with the celebration of performers who excel at synergistic visibility.

Context guides illness-identity: A qualitative analysis of Dutch university students' non-help-seeking behavior

The purpose of this article is to develop a context-based and identity-centered perspective on help-seeking. Recent approaches have indicated the inability of conventional models of help-seeking to account for the non-utilization of health care services in situations for which services, resources and information are adequately provided. We address this non-utilization from a perspective that explores the interactions between notions of health, illness, and identity formation, especially in highly transitional situations in which people are confused about their identity and sense of belonging. More specifically, we explore the non-utilization of health care services by Dutch university students. The results of 36 in-depth interviews show that the help-seeking behaviors of university students are closely associated with questions about identity, forms of agency, and styles of self-presentation, and are deeply influenced by the uncertain social and cultural context in which students are inserted. For example, being a 'normal' student was often regarded as more important than solving health problems, and stress was repeatedly portrayed as a constant and inevitable condition of everyday student life, giving a common language to express the burdens of the shared student experience. Some students even romanticized health problems. Eventually students with serious health problems avoided accessing health services.

“Ne diyor?” (What does she say?): Informal interpreting in general practice

Objective The aim of this study was to offer a comparative analysis of informal interpreters during medical consultations with both good and poor mutual understanding between general practitioners (GPs) and patients. Methods Sixteen video-registered medical interviews of Turkish immigrant patients were analysed. Stretches of discourse of eight interviews with good mutual understanding between patient and doctor were compared to eight interviews with poor mutual understanding. The discourse analysis focused on: (1) miscommunication and its causes; (2) changes in the translation; (3) side-talk activities. Results In the cases of ‘poor mutual understanding’, the instances of miscommunication far exceeded those in the ‘good mutual understanding’ group. Style of self-presentation, content omissions and side-talk activities seemed to hinder good mutual understanding. Conclusion Alongside the evidence about problems with informal interpreting, sometimes the use of family interpreters can facilitate medical communication. Practice implications Recommendations are given in order to increase physicians’ awareness of the complex process of interpreting, as well as to empower informal interpreters and patients to effectively deal with this communicative triad.

The need to act a little more ‘scientific’: biomedical researchers investigating complementary and alternative medicine

The advent of scientific research on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has contributed to the current state of flux regarding the distinction between biomedicine and CAM. CAM research scientists play a unique role in reconfiguring this boundary by virtue of their training in biomedical sciences on the one hand and knowledge of CAM on the other. This study uses qualitative interviews to explore how CAM researchers perceive and negotiate challenges inherent in their work. Our analysis considers eight NIH-funded CAM researchers': (1) personal engagement with CAM, (2) social reactions towards perceived suspiciousness of research colleagues and (3) strategic methodological efforts to counteract perceived biases encountered during the peer review process. In response to peer suspicion, interviews showed CAM researchers adjusting their self-presentation style, highlighting their proximity to science, and carefully 'self-censoring' or reframing their unconventional beliefs. Because of what was experienced as peer reviewer bias, interviews showed CAM researchers making conciliatory efforts to adopt heightened methodological stringency. As CAM researchers navigate a broadening of biomedicine's boundaries, while still needing to maintain the identity and research methods of a biomedical scientist, this article explores the constant pressure on CAM researchers to appear and act a little more 'scientific'.

Perfectionism across stages of recovery from eating disorders

This study examined perfectionism in relation to recovery from eating disorders by comparing different conceptualizations of perfectionism across healthy controls and fully recovered, partially recovered, and active eating disorder cases, where full recovery was defined using physical, behavioral, and psychological indices. Participants were primarily young adult females; 53 active eating disorder cases, 15 partially recovered cases, 20 fully recovered cases, and 67 healthy controls. Participants completed questionnaires assessing trait perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation style, and frequency of perfectionism cognitions, as well as a diagnostic interview to determine lifetime and current eating disorder diagnoses. A robust pattern emerged whereby the fully recovered individuals and healthy controls had similar levels of perfectionism that were significantly lower than the perfectionism levels of the partially recovered and active individuals with eating disorder, who were comparable to each other. These findings have implications for more clearly defining eating disorder recovery and for the role perfectionism may play in achieving full recovery.

Protective self-presentation style: Association with disordered eating and anorexia nervosa mediated by sociocultural attitudes towards appearance

We tested the hypothesis that a protective self-presentation style (Lennox and Wolfe, 1984) is associated with eating pathology and anorexia nervosa (AN) and that this association is mediated by sociocultural attitudes towards appearance emphasizing the thin ideal. We compared the protective-presentation style of women with AN (N=17), partially recovered women (N=110), fully recovered women (N=73), and female controls (N=374). Ill women had a more protective self-presentation style than partially or fully recovered women, who in turn had a more protective self-presentation style than controls. Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance fully mediated the association between protective self-presentation and disordered eating. Protective self-presentation may therefore be a risk factor for AN and/or a prognostic factor. Implications for therapy and prevention are discussed.

Perfectionism dimensions, appearance schemas, and body image disturbance in community members and university students

The present study examined the relationship between a self-presentational style involving an extreme need to conceal perceived imperfections from others and body image disturbance (BID). Findings from both a community and a university sample indicated that nondisplay of imperfection (i.e., concerns over behavioral displays of imperfections to others) predicted BID beyond self-imposed perfectionistic expectations and other contributors to BID. Mediational analyses suggested that dysfunctional appearance schemas represent one possible mechanism through which nondisplay of imperfection influences BID. In contrast to earlier work on perfectionism and BID, which emphasized the role of self-imposed perfectionistic expectations, the current study offers a novel view of the connection between perfectionism and BID. That is, rather than striving to achieve perfection, the present study suggests that individuals with BID are characterized by a strong need to avoid appearing imperfect to others.

The virtual geographies of social networks: a comparative analysis of Facebook, LinkedIn and ASmallWorld

This study provided a comparative analysis of three social network sites, the open-to-all Facebook, the professionally oriented LinkedIn and the exclusive, members-only ASmallWorld.The analysis focused on the underlying structure or architecture of these sites, on the premise that it may set the tone for particular types of interaction.Through this comparative examination, four themes emerged, highlighting the private/public balance present in each social networking site, styles of self-presentation in spaces privately public and publicly private, cultivation of taste performances as a mode of sociocultural identification and organization and the formation of tight or loose social settings. Facebook emerged as the architectural equivalent of a glasshouse, with a publicly open structure, looser behavioral norms and an abundance of tools that members use to leave cues for each other. LinkedIn and ASmallWorld produced tighter spaces, which were consistent with the taste ethos of each network and offered less room for spontaneous interaction and network generation.

Doing as if: The histrionic self-presentation style

The histrionic self-presentation style is introduced as a concept that describes specific individual differences in self-presentation, namely, performing explicit As-If-behaviors in everyday interactions. The As-If-Scale (AIS), a trait measure of histrionic self-presentation, shows good internal consistency and test–retest reliability as well as convergent and discriminant validity in several samples. Construct validation involved determining relations between the AIS and the Big Five, histrionic role concepts, motives, competencies, humor and ambivalence. Furthermore, the AIS yielded incremental validity in predicting behaviors related to histrionic self-presentation over and above the self-monitoring construct. The possible impact of the histrionic style for research on self-presentation and other fields is discussed. It is argued that histrionic phenomena are pervasive within many facets of our western culture and therefore deserve further examination.

Selecting job applicants: Effects from gender, self-presentation, and decision type

We report on an experiment that utilizes an application-files design to recreate several features of a hiring decision for junior-engineer positions. The critical situation under study involved an assessor (either male or female) and a male and a female candidate with highly similar professional qualifications but different self-presentation styles. We investigate effects from sex category of assessor, sex category and self-presentation of pair of candidates, and type of assessment decision (namely, choice between the two applicants, and ratings of their competence and suitability). Our hypotheses consider both gender as status and as social identity, and predict different outcomes depending on assessment decision. We found no evidence of bias against the female applicant. The question about competence elicited effects from self-presentation only, from both men and women; the choice of applicant and suitability measures show no bias against the female candidate by men and a bias in her favor by women.

Perceptions of Self-concept and Self-presentation by Procrastinators: Further Evidence

Two samples of university students completed self-report measures of chronic procrastination and either self-concept variables (Sample 1, n = 233) or self-presentational styles (Sample 2, n = 210). Results indicated that procrastination was significantly related to a self-concept of oneself as dominated by issues related to task performance, and to self-presentation strategies that reflected a person as continually justifying and excusing task delays and being "needy" of others' approval. It seems that men and women procrastinate in order to improve their social standing by making their accomplishments seem greater than they really are.

Perfectionism as a contraindication for cosmetic surgery: a reply to Clodius (2007)

Millions of individuals undergo cosmetic surgery every year [1]. However, little is known about the extent to which, or the ways in which, personality traits or selfpresentational styles influence cosmetic surgery. Therefore, we welcome Clodius’ commentary and encourage further dialogue on the role of personality processes in cosmetic surgery. We have contributed to this dialogue by asserting that perfectionism is a personality trait likely to influence the entire cosmetic surgery process, from interest in, to satisfaction with, cosmetic surgery [8, 12–14]. Although we applaud Josef [9] and Clodius [2] for highlighting the importance of personality processes in post-surgical outcomes, a central issue with their interesting typology is whether it aids cosmetic surgeons in identifying and in understanding “hyper-” or “para-aesthetic” patients before surgery. In our view, the Josef–Clodius typology appears best suited to helping cosmetic surgeons categorize dissatisfied patients after surgery. In contrast to Clodius, we now outline a model describing both identifiable features of perfectionism and mechanisms through which perfectionism creates surgical dissatisfaction (SD). By so doing, we intend to explain why, as asserted in our prior work [12], perfectionism represents a contraindication for cosmetic surgery. Before describing this model, evidence linking perfectionism to cosmetic surgery is reviewed. Cosmetic surgery patients are viewed by others as being perfectionistic [3]. Case histories also suggest that perfectionism may fuel an insatiable appetite for cosmetic surgery [4], and both surgeons [11] and psychologists [8] have nominated perfectionism as a contraindication for cosmetic surgery. Furthermore, empirical research suggests that perfectionism is related to contemplating cosmetic surgery [13, 14] and that perfectionism is elevated among female cosmetic surgery patients compared to carefully matched controls [12]. Overall, this literature suggests that perfectionism is relevant to understanding the process of cosmetic surgery and that perfectionism may influence SD. We now outline a model expressing the manner in which we believe perfectionism is likely to produce SD. Our model (see Fig. 1) proposes that perfectionism engenders SD via multiple pathways. Prior studies [12–14] using the Hewitt–Flett multidimensional perfectionism model [6, 7] indicate that three perfectionism dimensions are particularly relevant to cosmetic surgery: socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., viewing other people as demanding perfection of oneself), perfectionistic selfpresentation (i.e., promoting a public image of perfection), and nondisplay of imperfection (i.e., concern over behavioral displays of imperfection around other people). In our model, perfectionism is understood as a distressing preoccupation with perfection as reflected in high levels of one or more of the above perfectionism dimensions. Perfectionism is not only believed to exert a direct influence on SD, it is also hypothesized to bring about SD through interpersonal hypersensitivity (see dotted black Eur J Plast Surg (2007) 29:357–359 DOI 10.1007/s00238-007-0111-4

Pro-anorexics and recovering anorexics differ in their linguistic Internet self-presentation

Objective Pro-anorexia has emerged as a new and emotionally charged eating disorder phenomenon. This study explored the linguistic markers of differences in Internet self-presentation of self-identified pro-anorexics who defend anorexia as a lifestyle and self-identified anorexics in recovery. Method One hundred sixty-two Internet message board entries and 56 homepages originating from either pro-anorexics or recovering anorexics were analyzed for linguistic markers of emotional, cognitive, and social functioning, temporal focus, and anorexia-related psychological concerns. Results Across both text sources, pro-anorexics displayed more positive emotions, less anxiety, a lower degree of cognitive reflection, and lower levels of self-directed attention than did recovering anorexics. Pro-anorexics were also more focused on the present and less on the past. Finally, pro-anorexics were more preoccupied with eating and less with school-related issues and death. Conclusion Linguistically, pro-anorexics and recovering anorexics engage in distinct psychological self-presentation styles. More research is needed to understand the clinical implications of these different linguistic styles.

A case study of styles of patient self-presentation in the nurse practitioner primary health care consultation

This case study explores the patient self-presentational aspects of social interactions occurring during nurse practitioner consultations in primary health care. Previous consultation communication research has revealed that styles of patient self-presentation have an effect on the process and outcomes of consultations. However, it is noted that available consultation communication research is focused on doctor-patient interactions. Accordingly, this research aimed to redress the medically focused imbalance in consultation communication research by investigating and identifying the possible effects of patient self-presentation styles on the process and outcomes of nurse practitioner consultations. An observational case study was undertaken in a nurse-led primary care walk-in clinic, utilizing multiple methods of data collection including: direct observations of nurse practitioner consultations, postconsultation semi-structured interviews with nurse practitioners, and a field journal. Two sample groups were used: a purposive sample of 15 patients attending the walk-in clinic with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and a convenience sample of six nurse practitioners employed at the same clinic. Five different styles of patient self-presentation were identified, which all had variant effects on the process and outcomes of the nurse practitioner consultation. These styles included: Seekers (patients seeking treatment); Clinical Presenters (patients presenting clinical histories); Confirmers (patients checking the severity of their illnesses); Seekers to Confirmers (patients who initially seek treatment, but who change to a confirmatory style); Anticipators (patients who anticipate their need for treatment). The nurse practitioner participants were found to be flexibly responding to these styles of patient self-presentation, as an attempt to maximize patient satisfaction with their consultations. It is suggested that the observed nurse practitioners were able to flexibly modify their consultation communication strategies in response to different patient self-presentation styles, which helped resolve the tensions existing between the patients’ own reasons for consultation attendance and their actual clinically assessed needs for treatment.

Misunderstandings: a qualitative study of primary care consultations in multilingual settings, and educational implications

Patients in inner-city areas come from increasingly diverse language and cultural backgrounds. Neither communications training modelled on local English speakers nor the provision of interpreters offer adequate solutions. To identify how patients with limited English and culturally different communication styles consult with general practitioners (GPs) in English, and to develop training strategies from both good practice and observed misunderstandings. Randomly selected routine and emergency surgeries in 19 inner London general practices were video-recorded. The videos were viewed independently by 2 discourse analysts. Key consultations, across a wide range of English language ability, were selected and transcribed to analyse misunderstandings resulting from language/cultural differences. Of the 232 video recordings that were made, 20% were with patients with limited English and contained major and often extended misunderstandings. QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS: Four main categories of patient 'talk' contributing to misunderstandings are identified: (1) pronunciation and word stress; (2) intonation and speech delivery; (3) grammar, vocabulary and lack of contextual information; and (4) style of presentation. The importance of different styles of self-presentation by patients as the reason for misunderstandings is highlighted. On only 3 occasions were culturally specific health beliefs raised. It is routine for GPs in inner London practices to manage consultations with patients with culturally different communicative styles from their own. Specific training in identifying these problems and preventing/repairing them in the consultation is essential. This level of awareness-raising is more crucial than general discussions of culturally different health belief models.

Link Between Vasopressin Receptor AVPR1A Promoter Region Microsatellites and Measures of Social Behavior in Humans

Abstract. Two markers near the vasopressin receptor (AVPR1A) gene located on chromosome 12q14-15 were tested for linkage to two complex social behaviors in humans: Sibling relationships and self-presentation style. Self-report questionnaires were administered to 552 same-sex siblings from 248 families. Suggestive linkage was observed between both microsatellites (RS1 and RS3) and the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire Conflict scale (RS1: χ2 = 13.65, LOD = 2.96, p = .0001; RS3: χ2 = 14.54, LOD = 3.16, p = .00007) and the Concern for Appropriateness Scale Self-presentational style (RS1: χ2 = 8.25, LOD = 1.79 p = .002; RS3: χ2 = 8.81, LOD = 1.91, p = .002. The current results provide the first provisional evidence that the vasopressin receptor mediates social behavior in humans and links a specific genetic element to perceived sibling interactions.

Why Drink Less? Diffidence, Self-Presentation Styles, and Alcohol Use Among University Students

Through the theoretical lens of the self-presentation model, this paper addresses conflicting results from past research on the links between the components of diffidence (i.e., high levels of introversion and loneliness, and low levels of self-esteem) and alcohol use among undergraduate college students (N = 548). Correlational and multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether protective and acquisitive self-presentation expectancies about the effects of alcohol act as suppressing variables in the relationship between diffidence and alcohol use. Results supported the suppression hypothesis. A negative relationship between diffidence and alcohol use was revealed when self-presentation expectancies about the effects of alcohol were controlled statistically. The self-presentation model may provide new theoretical insights into the links between alcohol expectancies and alcohol use. Implications for campus-based intervention programs are discussed.

Materialism and self-presentational styles

To examine the images that materialistic people wish to convey, we first asked 177 participants to complete the Richins and Dawson (1992) materialism scale and an adjective checklist that assessed five self-presentational styles. In a subsequent experiment, we primed 210 participants to experience one of five self-presentational styles and asked them to complete a state materialism scale. We expected that materialists would tend to avoid supplication and ingratiation, but would self-promote and intimidate. Across both studies, results supported the supplication and ingratiation hypotheses, but failed to show any link between either self-promotion or intimidation and materialism. We discuss how personal insecurity may be a precursor to materialism. We also discuss future research avenues with respect to probing the interrelationship between materialism, insecurity, and self-presentational considerations.

Materialism and self-presentational styles

Materialism and self-presentational styles