Final answer:
Abigail is practicing impression management, a strategy to influence how others perceive her, which is crucial in professional settings or political campaigns to gain support or elicit a positive response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abigail is demonstrating impression management when she presents herself as the kind of person that she thinks others want her to be while running for office. Impression management is a process in which individuals attempt to control the perceptions of others about themselves. This is particularly important in a professional context or during a political campaign where the goal is to elicit positive responses or support from others. Adapting to expectations and exerting control over how one is perceived can lead to benefits such as promotions, forming alliances, or gaining support in Abigail's case.
Understanding the strategic use of impression management can be seen in various contexts, such as when political candidates deliberately choose their attire to influence voter perceptions or when individuals assume different roles or mimicking behaviors to foster social connections. This kind of strategic behavior is a part of our social dynamics and is not just restricted to politics but extends to the workplace and personal interactions, where social skills are often developed through the process of mimicry and adaptation.