ANTONIO CURTIS
Reputation—what is said or believed about a person resulting from the discussion of impressions, beliefs, and evaluations of the person by members of a network—has far-reaching effects. Opportunities, self-concept, status, and other outcomes are affected by reputation. Though we often speak of a person “having” a reputation, the reputation itself exists within the minds and conversations of other people. My research focuses on aspects of reputation particularly as it relates to its management. How do people attempt to manage their reputation? What strategies are most effective? What bearing do personality traits have on these answers? When is concern for the management of one’s reputation heightened? These and related questions will first be addressed by creating a reputation management assessment tool. After this tool is created, it will be used to illuminate the process of reputation management.