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# protective impression management tactics
Method of [[impression management]] whereby an individual attempts to avoid looking bad.
## Protective/Direct tactics
1. **Accounts**
Goal: To lessen or repair the damage after a failure
Examples: making excuses - admitting an action is wrong but denying responsibility, offering justifications - accepting responsibility but claiming it's not as bad as it seems or it was justified
2. **Disclaimers**
Goal: To lessen the potential damage that might be caused by upcoming failure
Examples: claiming credentials to make racist comments ("some of my best friends are..."), claiming an exception to the rules, asking for a suspension of judgement
3. **Self-Handicapping**
Goal: To put self-imposed barriers in place when outcomes are uncertain to maximize the value of success and minimize the penalties for failure
Examples: claiming to be coming back from an injury prior to a game, mentioning an illness that prevented you from doing as much research as you wanted
4. **Apologies**
Goal: To obtain pardon by admitting responsibility and blame
Examples: expressions of remorse, offers of restitution, requests for forgiveness
## Protective/Indirect tactics
1. **Blaring**
Goal: To disassociate from a negative event or person
Examples: publicizing a lack of connection with the occurrence or individual
2. **Blasting**
Goal: To exaggerate the bad qualities of a person to whom we are connected but don't want to be
Examples: pointing out the poor work habits of another team member, claiming that a supervisor is abusive
## Sources
[[Organizational Ethics - Johnson 2019]]
## Tags
[[power]]
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<small>*Created on:* 2021-11-24</small>
<small>*Last modified on:* 2023-01-02</small>