Compare and contrast “minimizing bad” and “maximizing good” impression management strategies.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A wide range of impression management tactics have been studied, and there are
two different goals for using them. One goal is to use them defensively to avoid blame
for poor performance or ask for forgiveness (minimizing bad), and the other goal is to
generate respect and liking from other people (maximizing good). This view of
impression management includes these maximizing good tactics: self-promotion,
whereby individuals point out their abilities or accomplishments in order to be seen as
competent by observers; ingratiation, whereby individuals do favors or use flattery to
elicit an attribution of likability from observers; and exemplification, whereby people self-
sacrifice or go above and beyond the call of duty in order to gain the attribution of
dedication from observers. The minimizing bad tactics include intimidation, where
people signal their power or potential to punish in order to be seen as dangerous by
observers, and supplication, where individuals advertise their weaknesses or
shortcomings in order to elicit an attribution of being needy from observers.