Impression Management According to some sociologists, as we go about our lives, we try to control or manage the impression that we make on others in social situations. When we do this, we are practicing what sociologists call impression management. Even in everyday, ordinary interactions, we make special preparations—sometimes unconsciously—to convey certain information about ourselves that influences how others perceive us. These preparations often involve our personal appearance—how we look during the social interaction—as well as the social setting, which is the place where the social interaction occurs.