Rob Thomas
MANAGING A PUBLIC IMAGE: ROB THOMAS
INTRODUCTION
Social psychological research on the self suggests that we consistently seek evidence of our own merit and strive to demonstrate such evidence to others. Some people stake their self-worth on being popular, or strong; others on being morally virtuous; others on having accumulated wealth, power, or professional success. Personal self-worth is contingent on demonstrating traits and abilities in one’s chosen domains. These domains constitute one’s “public image.” Success and failure in demonstrating one’s public image generalize to the sense one has of one’s value as a whole person. Thus, we have a strong and persistent interest in proving to ourselves and to others that we are our public images.
One’s public image is shaped not only by the personal characteristics one wishes to convey to others, such as knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, and values, but also by one’s social identity affiliations, such as race, gender, nationality, and social class.
The social identity component of a public image refers to the image one wishes to convey as a member of various social identity groups. It is often influenced by the hope of being seen as associated with or distanced from the stereotypes that characterize those social identity groups.
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
A conceptualization recognizing that the way we perceive others and ourselves is based on both our unique characteristics and our membership in various groups
Personal Identity: the individual defined in terms of his or her personal characteristics (knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences and values)
Social Identity: the individual defined in terms of his or her membership in various social groups (race, gender, nationality and social class)
MANAGING A PUBLIC IDENTITY: ROB THOMAS
Rob Thomas describes some of the challenges he has faced as a white, middle-aged man who is managing director of a
INTRODUCTION
Social psychological research on the self suggests that we consistently seek evidence of our own merit and strive to demonstrate such evidence to others. Some people stake their self-worth on being popular, or strong; others on being morally virtuous; others on having accumulated wealth, power, or professional success. Personal self-worth is contingent on demonstrating traits and abilities in one’s chosen domains. These domains constitute one’s “public image.” Success and failure in demonstrating one’s public image generalize to the sense one has of one’s value as a whole person. Thus, we have a strong and persistent interest in proving to ourselves and to others that we are our public images.
One’s public image is shaped not only by the personal characteristics one wishes to convey to others, such as knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences, and values, but also by one’s social identity affiliations, such as race, gender, nationality, and social class.
The social identity component of a public image refers to the image one wishes to convey as a member of various social identity groups. It is often influenced by the hope of being seen as associated with or distanced from the stereotypes that characterize those social identity groups.
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
A conceptualization recognizing that the way we perceive others and ourselves is based on both our unique characteristics and our membership in various groups
Personal Identity: the individual defined in terms of his or her personal characteristics (knowledge, skills, abilities, experiences and values)
Social Identity: the individual defined in terms of his or her membership in various social groups (race, gender, nationality and social class)
MANAGING A PUBLIC IDENTITY: ROB THOMAS
Rob Thomas describes some of the challenges he has faced as a white, middle-aged man who is managing director of a