The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a difference in the use of self-presentation tactics considering closeness of the target person in three different situations and whether there are gender differences. The study included 219 students from University of Zagreb. Participants were asked to complete the Self-Presentation Tactics Scale (Lee et al., 1999) three times with varied instructions for each questionnaire. The first was related to communicating with a close friend they have known for many years, then with a stranger they had just met and with whom they do not expect a relationship in the future, and with a colleague who they just met at a lecture with whom they do expect a relationship in the future. The results of complex analysis of variance for mixed draft show that men used significantly more ingratiation, intimidation, entitlement and blasting then woman as a tactic of self-presentation. The results show that the tactics self-handicapping and ingratiation are used most frequently in the situation of communicating with a person with whom a relationship is expected in the future, and significantly less when communicating with a close friend. Tactic apology is most frequently used in the situation when communicating with a close friend, and significantly less when communicating with a stranger with whom one does not expect a relationship in the future. Tactics justification, disclaimer and exemplification are equally used in situations when communicating with a close friend and with a person with whom a relationship is expected in the future, while they are significantly less used in a situation when communicating with a stranger with whom one does not expect a relationship in the future. Tactics of intimidation and criticizing are both used most frequently in the situation when communicating with a stranger with whom one does not expect a relationship in the future and with a stranger with whom the relationship is expected in the future, but they are significantly less used in the situation when communicating with a close friend. There is interaction between the situation and gender for self-handicapping. This research examined, for the first time, the relationship of self-presentation to the different tactics and closeness of target people in our culture.

self-presentation, closeness, defensive tactics, assertive tactics