![\"Pexels\/Pixabay\"](\"https:\/\/cdn2.psychologytoday.com\/assets\/styles\/article_inline_half_caption\/public\/field_blog_entry_images\/2023-02\/man-first%20impressions-psychology-be%20yourself-emamzadeh.jpg?itok=KJXLcvYg\" "\\"Pexels\/Pixabay\\"")
<\/div>\nSource: Pexels\/Pixabay<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
It is normal to feel <\/span>anxious<\/a> before a potentially evaluative social situation (e.g., first date, meeting your partner\u2019s parents, job interview, work meeting). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Part of the anxiety comes from wanting to make a good impression and yet <\/span>having<\/span> limited control over how we will be perceived <\/span>or<\/span> evaluated. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A common piece of advice given in these situations is <\/span><\/span>this: B<\/span><\/span>e authentic. <\/span><\/span>Or, in lay<\/span><\/span>person<\/span><\/span>\u2019s terms: <\/span><\/span>Just be yourself<\/em><\/span>. But is that good advice? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Published in <\/span><\/span>Social Psychological and Personality<\/a> Science<\/em><\/span><\/span>, a recent study by Mignault<\/a> and colleagues suggests that although \u201cbeing told to be oneself elicits more accurate first-impression perceptions,\u201d it does not \u201cbear immediate personal or social consequences.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Below, I <\/span><\/span><\/span>summarize<\/span><\/span><\/span> the study\u2019s methods and findings.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n There were two samples labeled <\/span>target<\/span><\/em><\/span> and <\/span>observer<\/em><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sample:<\/em><\/span> Participants consisted of 204 undergraduates (136 women), average age of 21 years old, mostly Caucasian (N = 144).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Methods:<\/em><\/span> Participants designed as t<\/em><\/span>argets<\/em> first answered questions about their personality traits. This was followed by a video interview, <\/span>during which targets answered additional questions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Participants<\/span> were told <\/span>that the<\/span> investigation concerned \u201caccuracy of impressions,\u201d and their videos would be rated at a later time by \u201cobservers\u201d (as described in the \u201cobserver phase\u201d below). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Those in the experimental condition were additionally told to \u201ctry to be yourself as much as possible throughout the interview.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n To produce video sets for \u201cobserver\u201d viewing, responses to two questions were used: \u2018\u2018What are your passions?\u2019\u2019 and \u2018\u2018What do you do in your leisure time?\u2019\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Measures<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sample:<\/em><\/span> Participants consisted of 373 undergraduates (204 women), average age of 22 years old, mostly Caucasian (N = 229).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Methods:<\/em><\/span> Participants designated as observers<\/em> watched multiple target video interviews; every target video, <\/span>in turn, was <\/span>viewed by multiple observers. <\/span><\/span>This resulted in over 4,000 unique observer\u2013target pairs. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Observers were asked to rate the personality and likability of the targets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Measures<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The results showed that the targets instructed<\/span> to be authentic were \u201cseen significantly more in line with their distinctive personality profile.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Additionally<\/span>, t<\/span>argets\u2019 expressions of their<\/span> socially evaluative<\/em><\/span> aspects (e.g., <\/span>how reliable they were<\/span>) helped observers learn <\/span>what <\/span>targets valued and cared about.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But the <\/span>results also showed that targets told to be themselves were<\/span> not<\/em><\/span> \u201cviewed more in line with the average, socially favorable personality profile,\u201d <\/span>nor <\/em><\/span>\u201cperceived as more likable.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And <\/span>they did not<\/em> experience any positive changes in their well-being.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In summary, although the advice to be yourself may encourage an<\/span> authentic expression of personality<\/em><\/span>, it does not appear to have any <\/span>positive psychological or social effects<\/em><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Source: Pexels\/Pixabay<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The advice to<\/span> be yourself<\/em><\/span> encourages<\/span> authenticity<\/a> and motivates <\/span><\/span>people to reveal more self-relevant information and<\/span> to <\/span>behave in ways that agree with aspects of themselves that are <\/span>o<\/span>bservable and socially evaluative. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hence, th<\/span>is<\/span> advice is of particular benefit for people with low self-esteem because they are less willing or able to express themselves accurately <\/span>and, as a result<\/span>, more likely to be misunderstood. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, the suggestion to <\/span>be yourself <\/em><\/span>does not appear to have a positive impact on either personal or social outcomes. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For instance, i<\/span>n the study <\/span>discussed<\/span>, authenticity was not associated with greater well-being, <\/span>likability<\/span>, or other positive personal, psychological, or social consequences.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This <\/span>finding<\/span> disagrees with previous research that suggests authenticity is associated with positive outcomes<\/a> such as happiness<\/a> and success. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Perhaps the <\/span>association between authenticity and good outcomes (e.g., empowerment<\/a>, self-control<\/a>, self-knowledge<\/a>) holds for people with <\/span>favorable<\/em><\/span> <\/span>characteristics<\/em><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>especially in situations where t<\/span><\/span>hese traits are<\/span><\/span> highly valued<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Some examples are genuine expressions of characteristi<\/span><\/span>cs such as <\/span>conscientiousness<\/a>, honesty, ambition, self-confidence<\/a>, loyalty, <\/span>dependability, positivity, and a good Investigating first impressions<\/h2>\n
Target phase<\/h2>\n
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Observer phase<\/h2>\n
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Being yourself only when genuine expression of your personality matters<\/h2>\n
![\"Pexels\/Pixabay\"](\"https:\/\/cdn2.psychologytoday.com\/assets\/styles\/article_inline_half_caption\/public\/field_blog_entry_images\/2023-02\/girl-first%20impressions-be%20yourself-psychology-emamzadeh.jpg?itok=UctnT52w\" "\\"Pexels\/Pixabay\\"")
<\/div>\nTakeaway<\/h2>\n