Self-presentation and communication in physical activity settings

Citation

Eklund R & Howle TC (2017) Self-presentation and communication in physical activity settings. In: Jackson B, Dimmock J J & Compton J (eds.) Persuasion and Communication in Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity. Routledge Psychology of Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Persuasion-and-Communication-in-Sport-Exercise-and-Physical-Activity/Jackson-Dimmock-Compton/p/book/9781138652309

Abstract
Whenever individuals interact, impressions are developed in the process. These perceptions are a key driver in our social lives. For example, we may choose to be involved in relationships with those we perceive as caring, funny, and attractive, and choose to work with those we perceive as competent and talented. Given the importance of others’ impressions in shaping our social lives, it is unsurprising that individuals are thought to constantly monitor the social environment for cues about how they are being perceived by others. Although impressions may be constantly formed and revised in social interactions regardless of whether individuals are actively and consciously seeking to manage the impressions others form, there certainly are times when individuals are motivated to manage how they are perceived by evaluative others. In such cases, individuals actively engage in self-presentation. Self-presentation refers to the processes employed by individuals to shape others’ impressions of the self and can be thought of as falling under the conceptual “umbrella” of interpersonal communication. Evidence of self-presentational communication can be observed in myriad interpersonal contexts. In this chapter, we focus on physical activity, and specifically sport and exercise, as one particular sphere of social life where selfpresentational processes have been implicated in communication. Research findings indicate, as examples, that individuals are motivated to participate in physical activity for self-presentational reasons, employ self-presentational strategies within physical activity settings, and gain self-presentational benefits from physical activity involvement. The importance of selfpresentation in shaping physical activity involvement and outcomes, as emphasized by Leary, has become widely acknowledged in sport and exercise psychology. Reviews of self-presentation in physical activity have been published and book chapters have been devoted to the topic. These commentaries provide useful overviews of existing findings that serve to document the relevance and value of the self-presentational conceptual perspectives for understanding and explaining individuals’ physical activity experiences and behaviors.