Impression management is the process by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others form of them. This article presents a two-component model of impression management, which conceptualizes it as consisting of two distinct processes: impression motivation and impression construction. Impression motivation refers to the degree to which people are motivated to control how others see them, influenced by the goal-relevance of impressions, the value of desired outcomes, and the discrepancy between current and desired images. Impression construction involves the kinds of impressions people try to create, influenced by self-concept, desired and undesired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image. Impression management is a broader and more encompassing term than self-presentation. While some theorists suggest that self-presentation involves managing both others' impressions and one's self-image, the authors argue that self-presentation should be defined only in terms of fostering impressions in others' eyes. The two processes—maintaining private self-perceptions and creating public impressions—are distinct, with different psychological manifestations and motivations. The two-component model provides coherence to the literature on impression management, addresses controversial issues, and offers a framework for future research. The model is based on the idea that people monitor others' reactions and try to convey images that promote their desired goals. Factors such as the publicity of behavior, the value of desired outcomes, and the discrepancy between desired and current images influence impression motivation. Impression construction is influenced by self-concept, desired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image. The article reviews the literature on impression management, highlighting the importance of understanding the factors that motivate and constrain impression management behaviors. It also discusses the role of self-concept, desired and undesired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image in shaping impression management strategies. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between these factors in shaping impression management behaviors.Impression management is the process by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others form of them. This article presents a two-component model of impression management, which conceptualizes it as consisting of two distinct processes: impression motivation and impression construction. Impression motivation refers to the degree to which people are motivated to control how others see them, influenced by the goal-relevance of impressions, the value of desired outcomes, and the discrepancy between current and desired images. Impression construction involves the kinds of impressions people try to create, influenced by self-concept, desired and undesired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image. Impression management is a broader and more encompassing term than self-presentation. While some theorists suggest that self-presentation involves managing both others' impressions and one's self-image, the authors argue that self-presentation should be defined only in terms of fostering impressions in others' eyes. The two processes—maintaining private self-perceptions and creating public impressions—are distinct, with different psychological manifestations and motivations. The two-component model provides coherence to the literature on impression management, addresses controversial issues, and offers a framework for future research. The model is based on the idea that people monitor others' reactions and try to convey images that promote their desired goals. Factors such as the publicity of behavior, the value of desired outcomes, and the discrepancy between desired and current images influence impression motivation. Impression construction is influenced by self-concept, desired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image. The article reviews the literature on impression management, highlighting the importance of understanding the factors that motivate and constrain impression management behaviors. It also discusses the role of self-concept, desired and undesired identity images, role constraints, target values, and current social image in shaping impression management strategies. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between these factors in shaping impression management behaviors.