Perfume as a tactic of impression management in social and organizational settings

Abstract

Making a favourable impression on others is an important social task. Indeed since the impact of such impressions is both far-reaching and long-lasting in duration (Baron and Byrne, 1984), accomplishing this task in an effective manner can have important implications for an individual’s career, social relations and personal adjustment. Not surprisingly, most persons are well aware of these ‘high stakes’. Thus they devote considerable attention to mastering the art of successful impression management. In short, they attempt to develop specific skills that assist them in inducing positive reactions among others. Systematic research concerned with impression management suggests that a wide range of tactics can be used for this purpose (cf. Cialdini, 1985; Jones, 1964).