Watch Your Public Persona: Self-Presentation in Everyday Life

Your Public Persona: Self-Presentation in Everyday Life is an intriguing and insightful course that explores how individuals craft their public persona and present themselves in everyday life. The course is presented by Mark Leary, a highly regarded social psychologist and expert on self-presentation.

The course is divided into twelve lectures that explore various aspects of self-presentation, including why we are motivated to present ourselves in a particular way, the different strategies we use for self-presentation, and the potential benefits and drawbacks of creating a public persona.

Throughout the course, Leary draws on research from psychology, sociology, and communication studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. He begins by introducing the notion of self-presentation and explaining why it matters. He argues that self-presentation is a fundamental human motivation, and that we are constantly making decisions about how we want to be perceived by others.

Leary then goes on to explore the various strategies that people use to present themselves in different situations. He discusses the concept of impression management and how individuals strategically manipulate information about themselves to create a favorable impression. He also discusses the idea of self-monitoring and how some people are more skilled at modulating their behavior and presentation depending on the context.

Throughout the course, Leary emphasizes that self-presentation is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, he argues that it is an essential tool for navigating social situations and establishing social connections. However, he also cautions that there are potential downsides to creating a public persona. For example, if individuals invest too much in their public image, they may become overly concerned with how they are perceived by others and neglect their own needs and interests.

The latter half of the course focuses on the role of technology and social media in shaping self-presentation. Leary discusses how social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have created new opportunities for self-presentation and how individuals can use these platforms to craft and manage their public image. He also explores the potential downsides of social media, such as the pressure to constantly present a perfect image and the potential for negative feedback and criticism.

Overall, Your Public Persona: Self-Presentation in Everyday Life is an engaging and thought-provoking course that sheds light on a fundamental aspect of human behavior. Leary is an engaging and knowledgeable guide, and he presents the material in a way that is accessible and compelling. Whether you are interested in psychology, sociology, or communication studies, this course is sure to provide valuable insights into the ways in which we present ourselves to the world.

Your Public Persona: Self-Presentation in Everyday Life is a series that ran for 1 seasons (12 episodes) between and on The Great Courses Signature Collection