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As athletes enter a new chapter in their lives retiring from their sport, the challenge of upholding and enhancing personal brands arises. There has been extensive research on athlete brand building via social media; however, there have been few studies analyzing how athletes build their own brands and brand extensions postcareer, particularly former National Football League (NFL) players. Sixteen retired NFL athletes were examined using Goffman's theory of self-presentation to determine strategies used for building personal brand extensions and obtaining follower engagement via Instagram. Through a content analysis, a total of 2,933 Instagram posts were analyzed, and the findings from this study revealed that former NFL players with fewer followers received higher engagement rates, and retired NFL players made more backstage type of posts on personal pages compared with front-stage posts. Implications, recommendations, and future research suggestions also are discussed within the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management scholars have long examined gender disparities in leaders' communication and followers' reactions. There is, however, a paucity of research that takes an intersectional perspective. This article takes that step, using an intersectional lens to examine women leaders' use of dominant language and how others receive it. Leveraging advances in natural-language processing, I analyzed the stereotype content of more than 250,000 Congressional remarks (Study 1) and almost one million tweets (Study 2) by leaders. Women leaders referenced dominance more than men did (using more words like "powerful"), violating stereotypes that depict women as submissive. However, as theory on racialized gender stereotypes suggests, this effect was unique to White leaders. Two additional studies revealed backlash to women leaders' use of dominant language. Analyzing almost 18,000 editorials revealed the more that women leaders referenced dominance, the more they were portrayed as dominant but also cold. Effects were strongest for Black and Latina women (Study 3). Finally, an experiment using simulated social media profiles found the more that Black women (but not men) leaders referenced dominance, the more voters rated them as less likeable, a result that was unique to Black leaders (Study 4). The article demonstrates the critical importance of intersectionality for understanding gender inequality in leaders' communication and its reception by the media and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projecting authenticity is crucial for athletes engaged in personal branding. Prior scholarship has emphasized the "frontstage" of authenticity: what tactics athletes use to present themselves and how audiences perceive such tactics. But it has not yet examined the "backstage": why athletes pursue authenticity and the strategic considerations involved in such ongoing self-presentations. Using a constructivist grounded theory that draws on interviews with 30 elite athletes engaged in personal branding, we unpack these backstage processes, which are not straightforward but entail an ongoing cycle of authenticity negotiation. Our model of authenticity negotiation identifies conflicting authenticity demands and constraints imposed by various actors, which athletes attempt to resolve over time using a range of authenticity management tactics. By modeling the backstage processes in authenticity negotiation, our research integrates, contextualizes, and suggests extensions to the existing frontstage work on authenticity. It offers guidance to athletes and practitioners on managing athlete brands and stakeholder collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black male college athletes (BMCAs) are in a unique position within the contexts of historically white institutions and Division I college athletics. Recently, BMCAs have increasingly presented themselves in ways that highlight specific social identities or even in opposition to the college athletic system and higher education environment. However, little has changed as power and privilege remain central forces in white-dominated settings. This constructivist grounded theory study examines how historically white institution and Division I athletic environments influence self-presentation of BMCAs through a Black critical theory lens. The experiences of 16 BMCAs illuminated how self-presentation was influenced by academic and athletic settings, Division I subdivision characteristics, and sport-specific contexts. I conclude with recommendations and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental time travel (MTT), a cornerstone of human cognition, enables individuals to mentally project themselves into their past or future. It was shown that this self-projection may extend beyond the temporal domain to the spatial and social domains. What about higher cognitive domains? Twenty-eight participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while self-projecting to different political, moral and temporal perspectives. For each domain, participants were asked to judge their relationship to various people (politicians, moral figures, personal acquaintances) from their actual or projected self-location. Findings showed slower, less accurate responses during self-projection across all domains. fMRI analysis revealed self-projection elicited brain activity at the precuneus, medial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction and anterior insula, bilaterally and right lateral temporal cortex. Notably, 23.5% of active voxels responded to all three domains and 27% to two domains, suggesting a shared brain system for self-projection. For ordinality judgement (self-reference), 52.5% of active voxels corresponded to the temporal domain specifically. Self-projection activity overlapped mostly with the frontoparietal control network, followed by the default mode network, while self-reference showed a reversed pattern, demonstrating MTT's implication in spontaneous brain activity. MTT may thus be regarded as a 'mental-experiential travel', with self-projection as a domain-general construct and self-reference related mostly to time. This article is part of the theme issue 'Elements of episodic memory: lessons from 40 years of research'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to describe how higher education students manage their webcams in a synchronous digital learning setting. A survey investigated students' self-presentation and the main factors impacting their decision to turn the camera on or not. The results indicate that only 6% of students always keep their camera on, affected by an inappropriate setting , only 19% have a dedicated space, and by personal appearance , 75% wear pyjamas or a gym suit. Students do not manage their impression either because they are not aware of the implications, or they are not technically equipped, or because they do not consider it relevant in online learning activities. Findings' implications provide relevant recommendations for higher education institutions to better prepare students to study effectively in a digital learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the translanguaging strategies used in internet slang on Douyin, a popular social media platform in China. By analyzing 331 examples (encompassing 313 translanguaging strategies), we investigate how individuals utilize various translanguaging resources, including multimodal, multilingual, multisemiotic, and multisensory resources, to manage their online self-presentation. Our findings suggest that multilingual resources, such as new Chinglish, Pinyin initialism, and hybrid words (combining Chinese, English, and Arabic numerals), were the most frequently used strategies. Additionally, we found that multisensory resources, including homophonic puns and modal particles, were also commonly utilized. In contrast, multimodal resources, such as emojis, and multisemiotic resources, such as keyboard-generated emoticon, hashtag, and punctuation mark, were less frequently employed. These findings reveal that Chinese internet users display a high degree of creativity and adaptability in their online communication, drawing on a wide range of linguistic and semiotic resources to express their identities and project their desired image. Overall, this study highlights the importance of translanguaging in online communication and its role in shaping self-presentation in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Word-of-mouth (WOM) has become one of the most important ways consumers obtain and deliver self-image. However, little research has investigated how product type influences consumers' WOM intention through self-presentation motivation. Across six studies, this research explores how, why, when, and for whom the product type matters in self-presentation and WOM. Specifically, Study 1A and Study 1B demonstrate that consumers are more likely to engage in WOM for experiential (vs material products) regardless of the type of WOM. Study 2 investigates whether this effect is mediated by promotion-oriented rather than prevention-oriented self-presentation. Finally, three moderator studies, including self-affirmation (Study 3), materialism (Study 4), and need for uniqueness (Study 5), illustrate when and whose WOM intention is more likely to be influenced. This research contributes to theory and practice in impression management and the growing literature on WOM intention. JEL Classification: M310 Marketing and M370 Advertising [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions There is little research exploring the subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) in culturally diverse young people. This study addresses this gap and provides an insight into the vivid world of this ‘hidden’ population.Four participants from England were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews. Four superordinate themes and their corresponding subordinate themes emerged from the transcripts: Excessive self‐consciousness—The inner critic and Feeling judged by others; Influences of social and cultural norms—The impact of dress‐code rules and The pressure of high expectations; Embracing a false reality—Patterns of avoidance and The public self; and Coping strategies—Breaking the wall of cultural norms, Pushing the bubble out and Know that you are not alone. Due to the vastness of the data, this study presents only the first two superordinate themes and their corresponding subordinate themes.The author chose interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). This allowed the participants to describe thoroughly their lived experiences and enabled the researcher to adopt a scientific approach.The results revealed that the socio‐cultural background of this population played a pivotal role in the prevalence and expression of SSA.The participants' experiences were significantly influenced by the social and cultural norms of their country of origin as well as the characteristics of modern society in England. The predominant factors were the pressure of high expectations from family and society, transgenerational trauma, socio‐cultural norms, uncertainty about the future and lack of opportunities to secure employment. Future research could examine the socio‐cultural influences shaping contemporary British society and their impact on youth's mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media are gaining significance in organizations and their business strategies. Therefore, the self-presentation of solo entrepreneurs on social media requires a strategic analysis and concept due to their specific business structure. Solo entrepreneurs work on their own without having any employees in their company. In other words, they stay as the personification of a one-(wo)man-firm. The business structure of solo entrepreneurs is particular since they operate in the most decentralized form of a firm, which is a one-person firm. In some way, solo entrepreneurs can be regarded as independent (self-employed) laborers. When presenting themselves online, they must decide which characteristics of the private self should be emphasized and which should be incorporated into the entrepreneurial identity to be useful to the business. Our qualitative study conducted twelve semi-structured interviews with solo entrepreneurs to understand how they present themselves on social media and how the solo entrepreneur offered online differs from the private self. We have found that there are features of the personal self that are kept strictly out of the entrepreneurial sphere, but there are areas that make a mix of personal and entrepreneurial selves. Our results help to understand the group of solo entrepreneurs and their unique characteristics in an increasingly important field of digital media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the findings of a study that examined the negotiation strategies employed by Filipino and Indonesian caregivers in addressing the challenges encountered as caregivers in Japan. A total of 20 caregivers have been interviewed, 11 of which were from Indonesia, and the remaining nine were from the Philippines. Results reveal that the challenges these caregivers experienced can be rooted to cultural and linguistic and status differentials. To manage these differences, caregivers employ negotiation strategies. Negotiating differences requires the presentation of the self in a likable manner to achieve relational goals. The cultural underpinnings of caregiving led Filipino and Indonesian caregivers view their work positively, thus, device self-negotiation strategies. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge regarding social work in the context of migration, and how economic disparities between host and sending countries recast caregiving work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking before going out, also referred to as ‘pre-drinking’ or ‘pre-loading’, has received little academic attention in adult female populations. This comparative research analyses women’s pre-drinking routines by drawing on ethnographic data from a broader study of women’s wine drinking practices in Australia and England. Informed by Catherine Bell’s ‘ritualised activities’, and the work of Victor Turner on ‘liminoid’ experiences and ‘communitas’, it finds that pre-drinking is a dynamic, ritualised, liminoid experience, with distinct contextual variations. In both groups, pre-drinking acts as a ritual and liminoid event which signifies the cue from ‘domestic’ home roles to ‘free’ social times. However, it finds that for the English women, pre-drinking is typically performed as a solo routine involving construction of idealised gender roles through which self-presentation is performed. In doing so, it supports previous research that posits that women drink wine to feel decadent and sophisticated, as part of a gendered embodiment of femininity. In the case of the Australian women, pre-drinking typically manifests as a feeling of ‘sisterhood’ among friends in an expression of communitas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the role of nostalgia in the meanings and uses of food-inspired (gourmand) fragrances at the point of their emergence in the 1990s and their adaptation by young women and girls in the first decade of the 2000s in the United States. It uses, as an evidentiary basis, news and magazine articles to map the popular reception of these fragrances following their emergence in the 1990s, and closely reads two retrospective works from the 2020s that center the gourmand fragrance Warm Vanilla Sugar by Bath and Body Works to navigate body-based anxieties and desires of young women in narratives of puberty set in the 2000s. Such analysis reveals complicated interplay among food, gender, and consumer culture as well as changing forms of and relationships to food-based nostalgia. This investigation of gourmand fragrances points to the field of food studies' further need to consider smell and other inedible objects of food culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Social anxiety can produce adverse consequences across all levels of symptomology, and research attempting to study its causes and alleviation is critical. Although self-presentation theory offers a potential framework to reduce social anxiety across individual levels of symptomology and various contexts, the current study applied the theory to a novel paradigm in attempts to reduce state social anxiety within the context of a lab study. Specifically, impression efficacy's proposed negative relationship with social anxiety was considered. It was hypothesized that participants in the experimental condition would report decreases in social anxiety indirectly as a function of increased impression efficacy. Methods: Undergraduate participants (N = 125) completed structured interactions with confederates, where the experimental condition encountered a social obstacle and received positive feedback, and the control condition received neutral feedback. A mediation analysis tested if changes in impression efficacy mediated the effects of condition on changes in social anxiety. Results: As hypothesized, changes in impression efficacy significantly predicted changes in social anxiety, and the indirect effect of condition on changes in social anxiety, through changes in impression efficacy, was significant. Discussion: Although present conclusions cannot be generalized to trait social anxiety and more research is needed, results support the potential use of impression efficacy interventions in reducing social anxiety. Considering the prevalence and consequences of social anxiety, this simple and easily implemented intervention could be useful across settings, contexts, and anxiety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the burgeoning literature on entrepreneurial commitment by providing a first empirical investigation of Howard Becker's side-bet theory in the context of nascent entrepreneurship. We investigate how different forms of commitment relate to both entrepreneurial behavior and various side-bet categories: satisfying conditions, non-work concerns, others' expectations, impersonal bureaucratic arrangements, perceived lack of alternatives, individual adjustments to social positions, and self-presentation concerns. We collected data from a representative sample (n = 242) of individuals granted with the French national student-entrepreneur status (NSES). Results froms hierarchical linear regressions reveal different patterns of side bets associated with entrepreneurial commitment, depending on its nature (value-based or exchange-based) and on its focus (the project or the profession). Our study (1) extends side-bet theory to the field of entrepreneurship and (2) improves understanding of factors associated with commitment during the volitional phase of the entrepreneurial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐objectification, the tendency to perceive oneself predominantly through the lens of physical appearance, has been a focal point of study in psychology and mental health fields. Yet, its intersection with marketing and consumer behavior remains underexplored. This study endeavors to fill this gap, unveiling self‐objectification as a novel driver behind the consumption of appearance‐related luxury goods. Such a tendency is hypothesized to arise from the heightened self‐presentation motivation prevalent among those exhibiting self‐objectification. Through three empirical experiments, we validate this connection, emphasizing a strong association between self‐objectification tendencies and luxury consumption, especially for appearance‐related products, with self‐presentation motivation mediating this relationship. Theoretically, our study integrates self‐objectification into the marketing area, linking it to consumer behaviors and enriching the prevailing literature while indicating directions for future research. From a practical perspective, our results offer important insights for luxury brand management. Moreover, by clarifying the impact of self‐objectification on purchasing behaviors, we aim to promote more informed consumer decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This exploratory study examines the socio-technical dynamics of Artificial Intelligence Companions (AICs), focusing on user interactions with AI platforms like Replika 9.35.1. Through qualitative analysis, including user interviews and digital ethnography, we explored the nuanced roles played by these AIs in social interactions. Findings revealed that users often form emotional attachments to their AICs, viewing them as empathetic and supportive, thus enhancing emotional well-being. This study highlights how AI companions provide a safe space for self-expression and identity exploration, often without fear of judgment, offering a backstage setting in Goffmanian terms. This research contributes to the discourse on AI's societal integration, emphasizing how, in interactions with AICs, users often craft and experiment with their identities by acting in ways they would avoid in face-to-face or human-human online interactions due to fear of judgment. This reflects front-stage behavior, in which users manage audience perceptions. Conversely, the backstage, typically hidden, is somewhat disclosed to AICs, revealing deeper aspects of the self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intensive use of social media among adolescents has caused concern about its impact on their mental health, but studies show that social media use is linked to both better and worse mental health. These seemingly contradictory findings may result from the diverse motivations, interactions, and experiences related to social media use, and studies investigating specific facets of social media use in relation to mental health and well-being, beyond general usage metrics, have been called for. Aspects of self-presentation on social media, such as feedback-seeking and upwards social comparison have been linked to worse mental health, however, there is a need for more studies exploring the relationship between self-presentation on social media and adolescent mental health over time. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between aspects of self-presentation and depression, anxiety, and well-being among adolescents. Methods: This study utilised both cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets from the LifeOnSoMe-study, comprising 3,424 and 439 participants, respectively (OSF preregistration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BVPS8). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify similar response patterns within the Self-Presentation and Upwards Social Comparison Inclination Scale (SPAUSCIS). Regression models and first differencing methods were applied to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between focus on self-presentation and mental health and well-being among adolescents. Results: A strong emphasis on self-presentation was linked to increased levels of depression and anxiety in both males and females, and reduced well-being in females when compared to those with lower or intermediate self-presentation focus. The effect sizes ranged from small to medium. Furthermore, an escalation in self-presentation focus over time was associated with a slight increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, the association with well-being did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that a heightened focus on self-presentation, which includes behaviours such as seeking feedback, employing strategic self-presentation tactics, and engaging in upward social comparisons, is associated with an elevated risk of reduced mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although right-wing authoritarianism is among the most well-studied constructs in the social sciences, left-wing authoritarianism (LWA) has only recently gathered attention. To expand on this burgeoning area, this study investigated LWA’s associations with an encompassing list of tactical self-presentation behaviors that are designed to gain power. A sample of US adults (N = 446; Mage = 46.10; 51% female) completed self-report measures of LWA and their use of 12 self-presentation tactics. LWA was related to a protean overreliance on all self-presentation tactics except apologies, which could not be attributed to liberalism or demographics (e.g. age; sex; race) and were consistent across LWA’s facets. Our findings suggest the utility of conceptualizing LWA as based in strategic self-presentation behavior that can secure social power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing popularity of frisbee sport in China has brought both recognition and stigmatisation. Rooted in the social identity perspective, this study employs in-depth interviews and participatory observation to explore this phenomenon, creating a multifaceted analytical framework that includes affective commitment, self-categorisation, group self-esteem and self-expansion. The study finds that the primary manifestations of frisbee stigmatisation encompass the heightened online attention and scrutiny, conflicts due to limited playing venues, misconceptions from one-sided sport perceptions, and controversies around its use for blind dates. Moreover, the study reveals that frisbee community members employ diverse strategies to counteract stigma, such as positive confrontation, ignoring or humorously resolving stigmatisation, selective online self-presentation, and converting opponents into supporters. This research contributes to the field of leisure studies by offering a deeper understanding of how leisure sports identities are negotiated in the context of societal prejudices. Furthermore, it provides practical insights for fostering resilience, promoting a positive sports culture, and encouraging a healthier approach to leisure sports among youth, potentially minimising the negative impact of stigma on emerging leisure sports activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media serves as one of the primary outlets for self-presentation and receiving social support. Even when individuals portray themselves negatively, it might not necessarily be intended for social disapproval. Conversely, positive self-presentation doesn't always guarantee social support. This study examined the relationship between positive and negative fitness self-presentations on social media and the reception of supportive feedback. Additionally, it investigated how social support might influence individuals' self-efficacy, motivation, and participation in physical activities (PA). Participants were fitness app users recruited from a crowdsourcing internet marketplace who had shared their fitness experiences on social media. The results indicated that both types of self-presentation received social support: presenters receiving more social support showed higher self-efficacy for PA. Moreover, fitness posters with higher self-efficacy in PA showed greater motivation for PA. This research suggests that fitness self-presentation allows users to receive social support, fostering confidence and motivation for engaging in PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Discussion Imposter phenomenon (IP), feeling as if a person does not belong, has been reported in medical students at various rates. In medical literature, this phenomenon has often been defined as a ‘syndrome’, but other studies have described it as a dynamic experience that can have various impacts on different people at different time points. Although studies have linked IP with other phenomena such as burnout in residents and physicians, no studies have examined its aetiology nor how these feelings are experienced by medical students.With the use of social identity theory as a framework, the authors analysed 233 reflective essays for elements of IP across eight cohorts of medical students from two institutions. Students responded to a prompt that asked: ‘What was one part of your identity that you thought you would have to change in order to become a physician?’ Included reflections were analysed using the framework method.Elements of IP were identified in 121 reflections (52%) and were categorised into three major themes: (1) Comparing oneself to an idealised image of a medical student, (2) Comparing oneself to an idealised image of a physician and (3) Concerns about presentation of self to others. Each theme contained two or more sub‐themes. Commonly, students discussed how their own personality traits, experiences, backgrounds and identities cast doubt on their sense of belonging in medicine.The results of this study were consistent across both institutions, suggesting that imposter feelings are common among all first‐year medical students. However, the extent of the impact of these feelings on their identity formation depends on the individual lived experiences of students and the context in which these feelings arise. Encouraging reflective journaling and sharing of stories from all stages of education can normalise imposter feelings during the development of the professional identity as a physician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe paper highlights the crucial role of positionality and reflexivity in understanding knowledge creation and research processes, drawing on my experience as a pregnant woman conducting semi-structured interviews with policy elites. Previous literature has acknowledged the impact of appearance and gender on the research process. By employing an adapted self-presentation technique during the interviews, observable effects on the research process were noted. This paper shares my observations as a researcher before and after disclosing my pregnancy. Participant reactions revealed clashes in expectations, worldviews, and meanings within the interviews’ initial moments. The positive experience demonstrated that pregnancy facilitated access to policy elites, recruitment of additional interviewees, and initiated meaningful dialogues, shedding light on the role of positionality and reflexivity in fieldwork. My open vulnerability, transparency in disclosing personal information, and accessibility enhanced participant reciprocity and diminished perceived threats, fostering engaging and profound conversations. These findings underscore how the distinctive attributes of the pregnant body—consciousness, vulnerability, power, and fluidity—significantly influence key methodological aspects, shaping the epistemological process of knowledge creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social media use, perfectionism, and disordered eating have all increased over the last decades. Some studies indicate that there is a relationship between self-presentation behaviors and being exposed to others' self-presentation on social media, and disordered eating. Studies also show that the relationship between focus on self-presentation and highly visual social media is stronger than for non-visual social media, hence facilitating upward social comparison. Nevertheless, no previous studies have investigated the link between adolescents' focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media, and perfectionism and disordered eating, which is the aim of the present study. Method: The present study is based on a cross-sectional survey from the "LifeOnSoMe"-study (N = 3424), conducted in 2020 and 2021. Respondents were high school students (mean age 17.3 years, 56% females) in Bergen, Norway. Multiple regression analysis was performed, where SPAUSCIS, a measure of self-presentation and upward social comparison, was the independent variable. Perfectionism and disordered eating were dependent variables. Self-reported age, gender, and subjective socioeconomic status were used as covariates, as well as frequency and duration of social media use. Regression models were performed to compare proportions across the median split of SPAUSCIS. Results: The multiple regression analysis showed that increased focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media were positively associated with both perfectionism (standardized coefficient 0.28) and disordered eating. A stronger association for girls than boys was found for disordered eating (standardized coefficient 0.39 for girls and 0.29 for boys). There was no gender moderation for perfectionism. Conclusions: Findings suggest that focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media is associated with perfectionism and disordered eating. We recommend promoting a healthy use of social media. This could be established by increasing adolescents' ability to reflect on and think critically about self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youths are in the process of figuring out answers to the question "who am I?" and young athletes are searching for athletic identity in interaction with their friends, teammates, coaches, and so on. This study explores athletes' presentations of athletic identity based on 24 interviews with ambitious young athletes attending upper secondary sport schools. Anchored in Goffman's theory of the self and the presentation of the self, as well as Markus and Nurius' concept of possible selves, the study views identity as socially constructed in interaction. Utilising this theoretical perspective alongside thematic analysis resulted in four themes that reveal characteristics that are deemed central in an athletic identity. First, the theme I am a dutiful athlete constitutes integral facets of the athletes' self-presentation as committed and diligent individuals. The interviews also bring to light variations in the athletes' attitudes and approaches towards these expectations and concepts. The remaining three themes: I must be unique, We must be unique, and I must have fun, illustrate how being a performing athlete extends beyond duties tied to training, resting, and eating. While the findings suggest the existence of certain dominant and desirable characteristics in an athletic identity, they also highlight variations in identities, emphasising negotiation and flexibility in handling the athlete role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital flourishing refers to the positive perceptions of digital communication use in five dimensions: connectedness, positive social comparison, authentic self‐presentation, civil participation, and self‐control. This three‐wave panel study among 1081 Slovenian adolescents (Mage = 15.34 years, 53.8% boys, 80.7% ethnic majority) explored the trajectories of their digital flourishing dimensions over 1 year (2021–2022). Latent class growth analysis identified two classes. Adolescents in the first class reported high levels of digital flourishing, which remained stable over time, whereas those in the second class reported low levels of digital flourishing with decreased self‐control over time. Autonomy‐supportive restrictive, autonomy‐supportive active, and controlling active parental mediation styles, together with high parental digital skills, predicted adolescents' belongingness to the (more digitally flourishing) first class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media platforms have become an indispensable aspect of our social reality. So much so, that the virtual self seems as real as the real self. The present study is descriptive and exploratory in nature as it aims to explore the authenticity of real and virtual self through an analysis of Instagram profiles in females. The study focused on the similarities and differences between the real self and virtual self and how the level of engagement in Instagram usage influences social comparison. The sample comprised 21 females aged 18-25 years, undergraduate college students living in Delhi/NCR who maintained an active Instagram account. The data was collected through the Self Presentation Facebook Questionnaire (Michikyan et al., 2014) and a self-constructed qualitative survey questionnaire. The analysis consisted of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study has implications for understanding the significance of the virtual self in contemporary times and its impact on the real self. Locating the intersection between the two can provide insights about the authenticity of both, the virtual and the real self and how it truly impacts individuals and their surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's dress is a constituent element of individual and group identity as well as an indicator of social change. Exploring childhood in three Greek rural communities in Laconia, Kythera, and Crete as well as in their respective diaspora in the United States, this study aims at shedding light on the (re)presentation of children in photographic records through clothing, perceived as the material projection on the self and the group (familial, ethnic, transnational). Drawing from theoretical and methodological approaches of distinct fields, such as history, fashion, photography, material and visual studies, and social anthropology, the study explores dynamic changes and shifting meanings in the way children were perceived and projected or asserted themselves through tangible sources, namely photographs, and clothing. The time period examined spans from the 1900s to the late 1930s without rigidly defining, as shifts witnessed in this time period were occurring in the last years of the 19th century, while the aftermath of the 1930s recession years could be felt beyond the period under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Socrates' interpretation of a poem by Simonides and its implications for human virtue and goodness. Socrates argues that misfortune beyond one's control can lead to a deprivation of knowledge, threatening human achievements. He also suggests that becoming virtuous requires continuous effort and that human goodness is subject to contingencies. Socrates emphasizes the complexity and limitations of human virtue and the ongoing pursuit of living well. He criticizes poetic interpretation for avoiding self-disclosure and emphasizes the importance of speaking in one's own voice. Socrates concludes that philosophical speech must be both self-disclosive and poetic, indicating its own inadequacy while still aiming to convey truth. [Extracted from the article]

This essay offers a novel framework for the definition of biblical wisdom as a genre by suggesting self-presentation as a key to understanding the genre's dynamics. By framing the material as sapiential, the authors/editors provide a hermeneutical tool for readers, based on a set of shared conventions. Forming the scarlet thread of the genre, this »self-identification« is »thickened« by a set of fluid features – many of which are related to the labile conventions associated with the wise. This spinal cord links later works to the tradition even when expectations change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite equivalent qualifications, experience, and degrees, women are underrepresented in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) leadership. Understanding the factors behind this is crucial for addressing the issue. Although recent studies have shed light on the influence of a male-dominated culture, systematic barriers, and unconscious biases in contributing to the underrepresentation of female leaders, there is a scarcity of studies addressing the sociopsychological theories underlying cultural expectations and norms that contribute to the gender gap in the AEC industry. Social psychology introduces the self-presentation theory, proposing that individuals actively shape their self-image and the impressions they convey to others. According to this theory, people strategically choose and present information about themselves to cultivate a positive impression. Hence, this theory posits that individuals belonging to a minority, under the pressure of cultural norms and expectations, align their self-presentation with the anticipated roles assigned to them. Our study employs a data-driven methodology that uses natural language processing to explore the gender self-presentation gap. We analyzed 2,800 publicly available LinkedIn profiles of leaders within the top engineering firms ranked based on gross revenue. Our analysis delves into how these leaders present themselves, sharing their biographies, skills, and capacity on social media platform, and contrasts this self-presentation with how their colleagues evaluate their skills through the recommendation section. The findings reveal a higher similarity, both semantically and textually, between received recommendations and the skills and biographies of female leaders. Female leaders tend to present their skills in a way that aligns with others' expectations more than male counterparts. This study underscores the significance of addressing cultural norm biases as a pivotal step toward achieving increased gender equality within leadership roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the mobile Internet, people increasingly rely on social media posting to fulfill their needs for self-presentation. However, research on the association between social media posting and psychological outcomes has yielded inconsistent results. This study focused on the correlation between posting on WeChat/QQ and loneliness and explored the moderating effects of adult attachment styles based on 410 WeChat/QQ users (Mage = 21.44). The results showed that posting was negatively associated with feelings of loneliness. More importantly, attachment anxiety moderates the association, with the negative association between social media posting and loneliness becoming progressively stronger as participants' attachment anxiety increases. These findings provided practical implications for individuals with high attachment anxiety who are facing interpersonal dilemmas to alleviate loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, live streaming has become the mainstream way of online shopping in China. As the dominant player and performer in live streaming, streamers play a crucial role in consumers' purchase decisions. Therefore, this study focuses on the self-presentation behavior of streamers in the context of e-commerce live streaming and explores the mechanism of its influence on consumers' purchase intention from the perspective of persuasion knowledge. A total of 538 consumers from China participated in this anonymous survey. The results indicate that helpful and empathetic behaviors of streamers can significantly enhance consumers' purchase intention, while derogatory, exaggerated, and flattering behaviors of streamers can significantly diminish consumers' purchase intention. Persuasion knowledge played a mediating role and had a significant negative impact on purchase intention, while anticipated inaction regret weakened its effect on purchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has investigated intrinsic and extrinsic intersectional cues taken into consideration by consumers when evaluating a product or a service at the intersection between the hospitality industry and the dating industries. The five main contributions of this study are as follows. First, the cue theory is a valid approach to investigate industry‐specific and intersectional products and services alike. Second, understanding of customer needs in the hospitality industry is partial, as existing research is based only on industry‐specific examples. Third, speed dating events could potentially be a competitive advantage for bars and restaurants. Fourth, online reviews are not always the most suitable and reliable data, as consumers are sometimes adopting a protective self-presentation attitude, particularly when frustrated about something. Finally, events are characterized by the types of activities participants are involved in: their level of involvement, encounters, and emotions experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To promote the success of peer-to-peer accommodation, this study examines the effects of online host–guest interaction as well as the interaction's boundary conditions of listing price and reputation on listing popularity. Design/methodology/approach: Using 330,686 data collected from Airbnb in the United States of America, the authors provide empirical evidence to answer whether social-oriented self-presentation and response rate influence listing popularity from the perspective of social exchange theory (SET). In addition, the authors investigate how these two kinds of online host–guest interactions work with listing price and reputation to influence listing popularity. Findings: The results reveal the positive association between online host–guest interaction and listing popularity. Notably, the authors find that listing price strengthens but listing reputation weakens the positive effects of online host–guest interactions on listing popularity in peer-to-peer accommodation. Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to adopt SET to explain the importance of online host–guest interactions in influencing listing popularity as well as examine the moderating role of listing price and reputation on the above relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing demands to be seen as authentic at work have created a paradox of self-presentation for employees: the desire to be seen as simultaneously true to self and professionally appropriate in workplace interactions. The present paper introduces one way in which individuals may navigate this tension: strategic authenticity, a self-presentational approach that involves enacting behaviors intended to increase colleagues' perceptions of one's authenticity while accounting for individual and contextual factors that influence one's professional image. I propose that the behavioral signals of social deviations (nonconformity and spontaneity) and self-expressions (transparency and vulnerability) increase colleagues' perceptions of a worker's authenticity but pose a threat to their professional image. Next, I highlight how felt authenticity and the degree of perceived violation of social expectations (i.e., benign versus taboo signal content and aligning with communal versus agentic norms) moderate the impact of signals on perceptions of authenticity and professional image, suggesting that strategic authenticity can be achieved via a careful selection of behaviors based on individual and contextual factors. Last, I consider how the enactment of strategic authenticity leads to high-quality connections at work, which over time, may lead to the formation of positive relationships (enhanced by an actor's felt authenticity). This paper extends prior scholarship on authenticity, professional image construction, and high-quality connections by highlighting how to balance interpersonal goals to appear authentic and at the same time, maintain a desirable professional image in workplace interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many people share travel experience on WeChat Moments (WM). At present, most scholars have analysed the phenomenon from the perspective of destination image construction, but few of them investigate the uniqueness of the WM platform and the social factors of WM are rarely discussed. Based on the social comparison theory, this paper regards the sharing of travel experience on WM as an inducing factor of upward social comparison in WM, and explores its influence on travel intention. The role of benign envy and potential tourists' self-presentation in this mechanism are also explored. Through experimental design and survey instruments, it is found that high-quality travel experience sharing on WM may increase potential tourists' travel intention. In addition, high-quality travel experience sharing can induce benign envy, which will increase potential tourists' travel intention as well. When the level of potential tourists' self-presentation is high, the relationship between WM travel experience sharing and benign envy is stronger. The results provide theoretical insights into travel experience sharing. Practically, the potential tourists' benign envy and self-presentation intention can be used to benefit tourism destination marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The intensive use of social media among adolescents has caused concern about its impact on their mental health, but studies show that social media use is linked to both better and worse mental health. These seemingly contradictory findings may result from the diverse motivations, interactions, and experiences related to social media use, and studies investigating specific facets of social media use in relation to mental health and well-being, beyond general usage metrics, have been called for. Aspects of self-presentation on social media, such as feedback-seeking and upwards social comparison have been linked to worse mental health, however, there is a need for more studies exploring the relationship between self-presentation on social media and adolescent mental health over time. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between aspects of self-presentation and depression, anxiety, and well-being among adolescents. Methods This study utilised both cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets from the LifeOnSoMe-study, comprising 3,424 and 439 participants, respectively (OSF preregistration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BVPS8 ). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify similar response patterns within the Self-Presentation and Upwards Social Comparison Inclination Scale (SPAUSCIS). Regression models and first differencing methods were applied to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between focus on self-presentation and mental health and well-being among adolescents. Results A strong emphasis on self-presentation was linked to increased levels of depression and anxiety in both males and females, and reduced well-being in females when compared to those with lower or intermediate self-presentation focus. The effect sizes ranged from small to medium. Furthermore, an escalation in self-presentation focus over time was associated with a slight increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression; however, the association with well-being did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that a heightened focus on self-presentation, which includes behaviours such as seeking feedback, employing strategic self-presentation tactics, and engaging in upward social comparisons, is associated with an elevated risk of reduced mental health.

Abstract Background Social media use, perfectionism, and disordered eating have all increased over the last decades. Some studies indicate that there is a relationship between self-presentation behaviors and being exposed to others’ self-presentation on social media, and disordered eating. Studies also show that the relationship between focus on self-presentation and highly visual social media is stronger than for non-visual social media, hence facilitating upward social comparison. Nevertheless, no previous studies have investigated the link between adolescents’ focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media, and perfectionism and disordered eating, which is the aim of the present study. Method The present study is based on a cross-sectional survey from the “LifeOnSoMe”-study (N = 3424), conducted in 2020 and 2021. Respondents were high school students (mean age 17.3 years, 56% females) in Bergen, Norway. Multiple regression analysis was performed, where SPAUSCIS, a measure of self-presentation and upward social comparison, was the independent variable. Perfectionism and disordered eating were dependent variables. Self-reported age, gender, and subjective socioeconomic status were used as covariates, as well as frequency and duration of social media use. Regression models were performed to compare proportions across the median split of SPAUSCIS. Results The multiple regression analysis showed that increased focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media were positively associated with both perfectionism (standardized coefficient 0.28) and disordered eating. A stronger association for girls than boys was found for disordered eating (standardized coefficient 0.39 for girls and 0.29 for boys). There was no gender moderation for perfectionism. Conclusions Findings suggest that focus on self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media is associated with perfectionism and disordered eating. We recommend promoting a healthy use of social media. This could be established by increasing adolescents’ ability to reflect on and think critically about self-presentation and upward social comparison on social media.

With a growing number of people using social media such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, it has become extremely important for professional athletes to build and promote their personal brands through social media. The purpose of this study was to understand how LPGA Tour Korean golfers use social media for self-presentation. Through content analysis, the self-presentation forms of the top six Korean LPGA Tour golfers were examined. The result showed that the golfers are more likely to use the form of the front stage rather than the backstage. The number of likes and comments is higher when golfers post backstage photos and write photo stories in both Korean and English languages on Instagram. This study contributes to the field of sport social media research theoretically with new subcategorization to Goffman's self-presentation and suggests a new insight into personal brand marketing strategies via social media for both athletes and sponsors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates moments in social interaction where tacit processes of gender attribution become visible because they are temporarily disrupted and exposed through misgendering. Our data consist of publicly available audio and video-recorded cases of misgendering, mostly from UK and US contexts. Practices of misgendering embody assumptions that map people's current gender onto their self-presentations and gender histories. Organisational features of social interaction facilitate the reproduction of these assumptions as taken-for-granted criteria for gender attribution. In the current climate of 'gender panics', the rise of a norm whereby people's self-defined gender should be respected clashes against enduring assumptions that uphold a gender order grounded in cisgenderism. The exposure of gender assumptions in moments of misgendering presents a potential for social change, but this potential is also limited by practices that reproduce (rather than challenge) the dominant gender order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeling stressed is an unfortunately common experience among employees—and one with significant consequences for personal and professional well‐being. Yet, in addition to trying to manage high stress levels, some employees are actively bragging about it to others at work. Given the general negativity of stress, however, the idea of bragging about stress and its relational implications are unclear. To investigate this phenomenon, we introduce the concept of stress bragging and draw on person‐perception theorizing to examine its potential workplace consequences for both braggarts and their coworkers. In a combination of a lab experiment (Study 1) and a multi‐source field study (Study 2), we show that stress bragging has resoundingly negative implications for braggarts as they are evaluated as less competent and less warm by coworkers, reducing their receipt of citizenship behaviors. Additionally, in Study 2, we find that coworkers of stress braggarts also suffer by experiencing higher levels of burnout due to enhanced stress crossover effects. This research on stress bragging integrates and extends the literatures on stress and self‐promotion, while also providing insight into the relational ramifications of this unconventional behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars commonly reference journalistic neutrality, but not in the context of self-presentation. This study examines how journalists feel compelled to demonstrate neutrality through their performance of self. Through in-depth interviews (n = 57) with broadcast journalists and those who shape their on-air presentation, I explore the construct of performance neutrality, identifying dimensions related to speech, appearance, and demeanor. Journalists negotiated expectations of performance neutrality by conforming to—and in some cases challenging—restrictive institutionalized norms. Drawing on social constructionism theory and the notion of White normativity, I argue that neutrality is a false ideal that upholds the status quo and limits diversity in broadcast journalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fitness app Strava incorporates the utility of a fitness tracker with the connection of social media. Since 2009, Strava has attracted over 100 million users, yet little research has assessed the implications of its use. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived psychosocial implications of Strava use among collegiate club runners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 runners from collegiate running clubs across the United States who were Strava users. Results indicated that runners perceived the psychosocial implications of Strava use to fall into three main themes: 1) self-presentation, 2) social pressure, and 3) motivation. The findings of this study support the utility of Strava to connect collegiate club runners and support their motivation to run while also suggesting some potential concerns related to social pressure and self-presentation that could influence mental or physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branding and self-presentation strategies on text and visual platforms have been explored in a variety of ways such as gendered analyses and content analyses performed on the social media profiles of athletes at multiple levels of sport. The purpose of this study was to examine branding and self-presentation strategies of two highly visible professional female soccer players (i.e., Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe) over two different time periods: 2019 and 2020. Results show that branding and presentation strategies can shift over the course of an athlete's career. Implications from this study include adjusting brand strategies for clients over time, using other athletes' strategies as their own framework, and promoting brand authenticity in accordance with their daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The current research on ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients has been mostly limited to Door-to-Balloon (D-to-B) time. This study aimed to compare the effects of different hospital admission modes to on the time metrics of patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). It also examined the effects of these modes on in-hospital mortality and other influencing factors. The goal was to prompt healthcare facilities at all levels, including chest hospitals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and communities to take measures to enhance the treatment outcomes for patients with STEMI. A total of 1053 cases of STEMI patients admitted to Tianjin Chest Hospital from December 2016 to December 2023 and successfully underwent PPCI were selected for this study. They were divided into three groups based on the admission modes: the ambulances group (363 cases), the self-presentation group (305 cases), and the transferred group (385 cases). Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the impact of different modes of hospital admission on the standard-reaching rate of key treatment time metrics. The results showed that the S-to-FMC time of transferred patients (OR = 0.434, 95% CI 0.316–0.596, P

I discuss everyday situations that bring about and contain suffering. We must take it seriously and distinguish between mental and physical pain and full-fledged suffering that entails dysphoria. I focus on morally relevant cases where I am innocent and contrast them with cases where my suffering is my fault. I discuss cases where we harm others and suffer from guilt and remorse. Our moral emotions cause extra suffering; sometimes, a person’s suffering is vicarious. Finally, I tackle the argument that suffering develops the sufferer’s virtues. I believe suffering is an intrinsic evil, and its good consequences are controversial and, at best, incidental. One may also argue that suffering ruins the victim’s character. This question may belong to empirical psychology.