在社会学和社会心理学中，印象管理是目标导向的有意识的或者无意识的过程。人们试图通过在社会互动中管制或者控制信息来影响其他人对一个人、一件事或者一个物的看法（Piwinger & Ebert 2001, pp. 1–2）。印象管理也常常与自我展示同义，代表人们试图影响他人对个人形象的认知。印象管理同样涉及职业交往和公共关系中的一些实践活动，这个术语常常被用来描述公司或者组织公共形象的形成。

Impression management is a conscious or subconscious process in which people attempt to influence the **** of other people about a person, object or event. They do so by regulating and controlling information in social interaction. It was first conceptualized by Erving Goffman in 1959, and then got expanded in 1967. An example of impression management theory in play is in sports such as soccer. At an important game, a player would want to showcase themselves in the best light possible, because there are college recruiters watching. Without a doubt, this person would have the flashiest pair of cleats and try and perform their best to show off their skills. Their main goal may not be to win the game but instead to impress the college recruiters in a way that increases their chances of being chosen for a college team.