Which of the following is part of Impression Management?

• A. Projection
• B. Attribution
• C. Both Projection and Attribution
• D. Neither

Answer: (C)

Impression management is about shaping how others see you. Projection fits right in as a way to present the image you want people to notice—choosing words, actions, and behaviors that reflect the traits you want others to associate with you, like confidence, competence, or reliability. Attribution is about guiding how others explain your actions and outcomes— framing why something happened in a way that supports the image you’re trying to convey, such as attributing success to your effort and skill, or explaining a setback as due to external factors.

Together, they’re both tools for controlling perception: you show the audience the qualities you want them to notice, and you influence how they interpret the reasons behind your actions and results. That’s why both projection and attribution are part of impression management.