Image: what is it, how to create or change it?

Each of us has at least once encountered such a concept as image. Someone attaches importance to this phenomenon, and for another person it may be completely irrelevant. People begin to think about the image at the moment when, for one reason or another, they are not indifferent to the opinions of others.

In English and French, the word “image” is literally translated as “image” and means artificially formed impression of a subject or object so that the surrounding people have a certain psychological perception of it. Image, as a whole image, can be not only a person, this concept applies to the organization, brand, country, nation, event, and so on. Today, the concepts of image, authority and reputation have become synonymous. An important point is that the external image and reputation is always the work of the person himself or a group of people interested in this process.

The external image, from the point of view of psychology, is always very informative and openly tells about a set of certain signs that are inherent in the object or are constructed by the conscious work of the creators. The image is dependent on many external and internal factors that are not static and can change their values.

The main components that make up the image of a person are 6 components.

Most people evaluate a person and any other objects at first glance.

Surrounding pay attention to such elements:

• hygiene and tidiness;
• appearance of clothes;
• posture and manner of moving;
• timbre and volume of a voice;
• eye contact;
• the energy of a handshake.

This implies the general erudition of a person in matters that are interesting to people during communication. In each social environment, these interests are different. Demonstrating the breadth of knowledge, a person creates a pleasant impression about himself and forms a sense of community with the interlocutor. In such an environment, people tend to sympathize with each other and trust. An educated person has authority among people, and he has the opportunity to influence their opinion.

It is implied that a person has in-depth knowledge and skills in a particular field. A high level of knowledge always positively affects the image. - people tend to trust a specialist, they respect him. Real awareness comes with experience, and such people always cause genuine interest, since they see in them a source of useful and reliable information.

To create and maintain contacts with people, the human psyche must have some flexibility. The ability to find the right pace of communication, a manifestation of interest in a person’s personality, the ability to conduct a conversation at a level accessible to the interlocutor - all this determines our flexibility. The same approach to all people will not bring the proper result, since each person has his own ideas about the way of communication.

The expression of interest and enthusiasm never goes unnoticed, whether it concerns work or interpersonal communication. To interest other people in your persona, a spirit of pronounced involvement in any process should be inherent in a person. Any audience consisting of one person or a group of people, when you show a high level of enthusiasm, very quickly becomes infected with it, experiencing a genuine revival.

A person who forms his image must truly possess the properties that he translates into the outside world. “To be, not to seem” is the motto of sinceritythat people appreciate and respect.

The first impression of appearance, the level of knowledge and erudition, flexibility and enthusiasm - all this should be maintained on an ongoing basis and at a high level. The created image is a tool for positioning oneself in society and helps to establish strong social relationships.

There are quite a few gradations of image types, but all of them can be divided into two main areas - verbal and visual.

• Verbal image - This is an impression of a person, formed on the basis of his oral or written speech. Any words that a person pronounces or writes reflect his mental level of development. The better a person knows the art of expressing his thoughts clearly and clearly, the higher his image in the eyes of those around him.
• Visual image - a set of certain gestures, facial expressions, posture, gait, head tilt and other kinesthetic signs that characterize a person. Even the smallest detail is important, for example, what kind of facial expression a person communicates with, at what distance he is to the interlocutor, how he makes eye contact.In society, there are norms and rules of behavior, the knowledge and observance of which has an impact on the perception of the person by other people.

Considering image variations, they can also be divided into objective and subjective types.

Each person can consciously or spontaneously form about himself or another impression of the people around him. A person will be judged by the totality of his personal qualities, which he manifests in everyday life.

But if the same person performs the functions of manager, librarian or leader of a party organization, the image of his personality in connection with this social role may already look completely different, adapting to the generally accepted canons of social behavior and norms. Such a transformation allows a person to achieve certain professional successes and form his image in this direction.

Any organization, whether it’s a commercial or political occasion to bring people together, tries to find its own personality and favorably differ from its own kind. A positive perception of the organization in the eyes of society favorably affects its development, income and the promotion of ideas.

Usually, the formed image is broadcast through the media, advertising, charity. Specially trained people work on creating the image of an organization or a politician and focus people's attention on one or another strong quality, making it a competitive advantage in the eyes of the public.

Many developed countries are currently actively and purposefully working to create and strengthen a positive image of their historical heritage, cultural traditions, the internal structure of the state, and ethnic self-identification. The territorial image includes many aspects that depend on different people united by one goal - creating a favorable impression of a nation, country or a specific territory.

Many items today belong to any brand or trademark, the owners of which invest their energy, time and money in maintaining a positive impression and recognition of their products. This is done to align with competitors, as well as to gain customer loyalty. Recognizable brands and brands inspire confidence in people, which means they bring profit to their owners.

Each person, whether he wants it or not, has a certain image in the eyes of other people.

There are criteria by which we perceive another person.

• Assessment of appearance - this is the cleanliness and neatness of clothes, the accuracy of hair and makeup, the ability to choose and wear things that are appropriate for age, status and figure.
• Health status - they note whether a person is awake or depressed, whether he is physically full or his capabilities are limited.
• Generally accepted standards - assessed compliance with standards of conduct, education, cultural development. Whether a person has the correct facial features, body structure, how does he stand out against the general background of the same people.
• Behavior - Verbal and non-verbal methods of human communication with other people, positioning in society, and the ability to comply with generally accepted standards are taken into account.
• Social background - nationality, race, where a person was born and raised, who his parents were, in what social environment he lives.
• Education - it is determined by what kind of education a person received, in what professional sphere he took place, what is his level of income, what kind of people surround him.
• Personal reputation - how much people are respected in society, what opinions people have about him and why.
• Psychological features - what moral position a person takes, what he is guided by in life, what moral and ethical qualities he possesses and what it is justified.

The goal of creating an image for each person can be his own - someone wants to achieve universal love, someone is interested in conquering the heights of business, and someone may have decided to become a world famous person. When working on creating an external image, people strive to convey to the consciousness of others their uniqueness.

The functionality of the external image is grouped as follows.

• Recognition - Image allows people around you to identify you in a short time. Its main goal is hidden in the depths of the subconscious - it is important for a person to quickly understand whether the one in front of him or not is dangerous. Identification ranks a person in a certain social group, the belonging to which a person broadcasts with the help of an image.
• Idealization - it shows a person’s desire to become what he would like. Whether he succeeds in solving this problem or not will show his image.
• Individuality - based on the fact that each personality has its own characteristics, allowing it to oppose itself to the bulk of other people.

To create a positive image, not only modern and successful media people, but also ordinary people resort to the services of image makers. Creating an image together with a specialist allows you to choose a positive external image based on the characteristics of the person’s character and the goals that he sets for himself.

Image formation algorithm.

1. We formulate the goal. Any image is a message to the outside world, and it is formed according to the priorities that a person places in life. Among the many goals, it is important to choose the most important and formulate it clearly. For example, “I am a successful man,” “I am a beautiful woman,” “We are a reliable company,” and the like.
2. Target audience selection. This step determines who your external message is designed for, who should see that you are a successful man, a beautiful woman or a reliable company. For example, the image of a successful man can be aimed at colleagues in the banking business, the image of a beautiful woman should attract the attention of men aged 30 to 40, and the reliability of the company should interest buyers of motor boats. Choosing an audience, you can predict its expectations and needs.
3. Parameter List. According to the expectations of the target audience, a list of qualities and properties that should be inherent in a person with a chosen image is formed. For example, a “confident man” broadcasts reliability, will, determination, and the image of a “beautiful woman” is emphasized by appearance, charisma, and good manners.
4. Compare desired and actual. At this stage, a list of personality traits that positively affect the image. Among them choose those that should be strengthened and emphasized. Then they find those properties of a person that will be destructive for his image - they will need to get rid of them. And the final stage will be the determination of qualities that a person does not have, but they should be developed, since they will be necessary in his new look.
5. Presentation Methods. Appearance, clothing style, actions, volume and timbre of speech, gestures, poses, facial expressions, topics for conversation and the manner of presenting information - all this is combined with the chosen image and they are thinking over how to transmit this whole set to others.
6. Get used to a new look. When the outlines of a new image are created, you need to get used to it and translate it into reality.To accept a new self you will have to work hard - only daily practice and self-control will help achieve the desired results.

Work on the formation and implementation of a new image is a difficult task. But thanks to a positive perception, people will see a person who enjoys communicating with them, which means it opens for you many doors that were previously closed.

The image created is variable, and in order to maintain it at the proper level, it is necessary to make certain efforts.

Image management methods include the following:

• informational stuffing - this is the dissemination of personal or professional information aimed at improving a positive external image;
• cultivation of positive characteristics - carried out by creating situations where you can show positive qualities in a favorable light;
• detachment from negative situations - to maintain the image should be avoided compromising events, people, informal groups and the like;
• creating a favorable impression - is to show attention and respect for people, express gratitude, congratulations on holiday dates;
• adherence to generally accepted values ​​- implies public approval and support of those parties and phenomena of public life that are valuable and significant for most people.

The final stage of image building is an impartial assessment of the results that have been achieved.

The evaluation criteria for the created external image will be the following points.

• The feeling of a person in his new image. A successfully created image is that set of acquired qualities in the light of which a person can feel completely satisfied from his own awareness of his masculinity, beauty or reliability - depending on the goal, for which the image was formed.
• Assessment of people around. If the work on the formation of a new external image was carried out successfully, this will not go unnoticed. The result will be an assessment of the near and far social circle of a person. Ratings can be anything from admiration to envy and depreciation. Most often, it is envy that indicates that the work on the image was a success.
• The emergence of practical results. Creating an image is considered successful if, as a result of this work, it was possible to achieve the intended goals. For example, a man became the head of a large bank, a woman successfully married, the company won the recognition of customers and increased sales.

The purpose of creating any image is its activity, which affects the emotions, consciousness and actions of one person or group of people. The current impression of the subject or object is the basis for trust or distrust in him, which, in turn, facilitates or complicates the possibility of the influence of the image carrier on other people.