As you sit in class, only half-listening to the lecture, you feel your eyes start to wander to the cute guy you noticed on the first day of class. The professor poses a question to the class and your crush raises his hand, responding eloquently. From your seat, you begin to formulate an answer equally as insightful in order to impress him. Perhaps you start reading the assigned articles more carefully and participate more often — increasing your comprehension and participation grade in the process.
Has your class crush inadvertently caused you to improve your performance in the course?
Sociologist Erving Goffman introduced the impression management theory in 1959, which states that individuals regulate their behaviors in front of others to control how they are perceived. He describes life as a theater and individuals as actors controlling the narrative for our audience, which can consist of our families, teachers and classmates.
“Any kind of romantic attraction, infatuation or crush will eventually lead into impression management,” Mehdi Haghshenas, associate professor of instruction in sociology, said. “You try to present a favorable image to somebody else, and that alters academic behavior. That in itself potentially (improves) performance.”
Focusing on how we are perceived by others, especially those who we have a strong affinity toward, will eventually dictate how we conduct ourselves. The alteration of daily behaviors can bleed into our routines and study habits, which has the potential to improve course grades if we wish to impress the object of our attention.
While this idea certainly applies to romantic crushes, it can also be seen in friendships or peer networks.
“Research indicates that achievement motivation … can be enhanced when a student (perceives) supportive … peers around them, and that emotional and social connection, even nonromantic admiration, can indirectly improve academic engagement in a positive way,” Haghshenas said.
Building strong connections with a motivated peer network can influence your habits and push you to be a better student. Class crushes can do the same in a less conventional way by incentivizing us to perform better to create a positive impression.
However, infatuation can push boundaries and become damaging.
“Excessive impression management or emotional preoccupation can also lead to more agitation and anxiety,” Haghshenas said. “If the intense emotion is … heightened enough, you really are not comfortable. You (are) constantly thinking about that person, and that creates distraction.”
It’s important to not let ourselves be consumed with the anxiety of being perceived poorly by those we wish to impress, as it can negatively impact mental health. Hyperfocusing on specific details can lead to analysis paralysis, whether this be in the outfits you wear to class or your response to the professor’s discussion question.
“(Crushes are) not supposed to be derailing you, distracting you, taking you off track of academics. That’s not the point,” human biology sophomore Vineeta Singh said. “(Crushes should) not blur your ambition or dim your fire.”
Finding a strong support system is important for students to succeed academically. Even if students are not romantically attracted to anyone in a class, it can be beneficial to find a friend and to scope out people who intrigue you and start a conversation. Like-minded peers will help uplift and motivate you to attend class when you’d rather stay in bed.
But hey, having a class crush doesn’t hurt either.
Sanchez is a government sophomore from Dallas, Texas.
