As you read each of the following 18 statements , ask yourself whether or not it applies to you, and answer (tick) ‘yes’ or ‘no’ accordingly. You will of course occasionally feel that you want to answer ‘sometimes’. But try in each case to decide where your personal preferences, strengths, and priorities really lie, and answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ accordingly. You don’t always get to sit on the fence. This is not a test with right or wrong answers. It is designed for personal reflection and group discussion.

You get either one point or zero, depending on how you responded to each statement. Simply add up the number of points you got.

A score of 13 or more implies strong impression management skills:

Awareness: you are consciously aware of your own and other people’s feelings and behaviour, and of how you affect others.

Flexibility: you are able to adjust what you say and do to match other people’s expectations, and to achieve your goals.

Control: you are able consciously to control your behaviour, and thus to control other people; you probably enjoy this. A score of 7 or less implies weak impression management skills: 

Awareness: you are not always aware of your own or other people’s feelings and behaviour, or of how you affect others. 

Flexibility: you are unable to adjust what you say and do to match other people’s expectations, and to achieve your goals. 

Control: you are unable consciously to control your behaviour, and may feel uncomfortably manipulated at times. A score between 8 and 12 implies moderate impression management skills. Read over the interpretations above, and judge your strengths for yourself. Which way would you now like to go – up or down? 

Whatever your own score, consider the following key issues:

1. To what extent are impression management skills learnable and to what extent are we born with them? 

2. Is it immoral or unethical to adjust one’s behaviour in order to modify the feelings and behaviours of others? 

3. Regardless of your own impression management score, would it benefit you to be more aware of how other people use these skills? Give specific examples.

4. In what ways would it benefit you personally to improve your own impression management skills, or to enhance your awareness of how you use them? Give specific examples.

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1. I find it hard to imitate the behaviour of other people. 2. At parties and gatherings, I do not attempt to do or say things that others will like. 3. I can only argue for ideas which I already believe. 4. I can make impromptu speeches even on topics about which I have almost no information. 5. I guess I put on a show to impress or entertain others. 6. I would probably make a good actor. 7. In a group of people, I am rarely the centre of attention. 8. In different situations and with different people, I often act like very different persons. 9. I am not particularly good at making other people like me. 10. I'm not always the person I appear to be. 11. I would not change my opinions or the way I do things in order to please someone or win their favour. 12. I have considered being an entertainer. 13. I have never been good at games like charades, or acting. 14. I have trouble changing my behaviour to suit different people and different situations. 15. At a party I let others keep the jokes and stories going. 16. I feel a bit awkward in company and do not show up quite as well as I should. 17. I can look anyone in the eye and tell a lie with a straight face, if for an appropriate reason. 18. I may deceive people by being friendly when I really dislike them. Yes No