the authors specifically included all five of Jones and Pittman’s (1982) strategies of impression management.
Although this is the case, many researchers have modified or used a subset of the items on the IMS Scale to
examine specific impression management styles.
Additional validation of the scale is needed. Because the IMS Scale is a self-report measure with high face
validity, social desirability might be an issue, but this possibility has not been explored. In addition, test /C0retest
reliability, criterion validity, and incremental validity of the scale have not been adequately examined.
IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT STYLES SCALE
Respond to the following statements by thinking
about ‘how often you behave this way’.
15never behave this way
25very rarely behave this way
35occasionally behave this way
45sometimes behave this way
55often behave this way
Self-Promotion
1.Talk proudly about your experience or education.
2.Make people aware of your talents or qualifications.
3.Let others know that you are valuable to the
organization.
4.Make people aware of your accomplishments.
Ingratiation
1.Compliment your colleagues so they will see you
as likable.
2.Take an interest in your colleagues’ personal lives
to show them that you are friendly.
3.Praise your colleagues for their accomplishments
so they will consider you a nice person.
4.Do personal favors for your colleagues to show them
that you are friendly.
Exemplification
1.Stay at work late so people will know you are hard
working.
2.Try to appear busy, even at times when things are
slower.3.Arrive at work early to look dedicated.
4.Come to the office at night or on weekends to show
that you are dedicated.
Intimidation
1.Be intimidating with coworkers when it will help you
get your job done.
2.Let others know you can make things difficult for
them if they push you too far.
3.Deal forcefully with colleagues when they hamper
your ability to get your job done.
4.Deal strongly or aggressively with coworkers who
interfere in your business.
5.Use intimidation to get colleagues to behave
appropriately.
Supplication
1.Act like you know less than you do so people will
help you out.
2.Try to gain assistance or sympathy from people by
appearing needy in some areas.
3.Pretend not to understand something to gain
someone’s help.
4.Act like you need assistance so people will help
you out.
5.Pretend to know less than you do so you can avoid
an unpleasant assignment.
Note: Reproduced with permission.
References
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Alanazi, F. M. (2001). The revised self-consciousness scale: An assessment of factor structure, reliability, and gender differences in Saudi
Arabia. Social Behavior and Personality ,29, 763/C0776.
Anderson, L. R. (1991). Test /C0retest reliability of the revised self-monitoring scale over a two-year period. Psychological Reports ,68, 1057/C01058.
Andrews, M. C., & Kacmar, K. M. (2001). Discriminating among organizational politics, justice, and support. Journal of Organizational Behavior ,
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Belling, L. R. (1992). The relationship between social physique anxiety and physical activity. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of North
Carolina, Chapel Hill.470 16. MEASURES OF CONCERNS WITH PUBLIC IMAGE AND SOCIAL EVALUATION
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES