Download Perceptions

2: Inter-Act,
th
13
Edition
Perceptions
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Social Perception
Also known as “cognitive
perception,” it is the set of
processes by which people perceive
themselves and others.
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Perception
The process of selectively attending
to, organizing, and interpreting the
information that we receive through
our senses
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Attention & Selection
Organization
Interpretation
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Attention and Selection
Selection is determined by:
1. Our needs
2. Our interests
3. Our expectations
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Organization
• Simplicity: the brain reduces complex
stimuli into recognized forms
• Pattern recognition: the brain organizes
information into recognizable patterns
or systems of interrelated parts
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Interpretation
The process of assigning meaning
to the information that has been
selected and organized
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Dual Processing in
Perception
• Automatic processing
– Fast, subconscious
– Heuristics: rules of thumb for how
something is to be viewed based on
experience
• Conscious processing
– Slow, deliberative approach
– We examine and think about the
stimuli
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Perceiving Others
Uncertainty reduction theory: ways
individuals monitor their social
environments to know more about
themselves and others
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Impression Formation
Physical appearance: predictions
based on appearance
Implicit personality theory:
inaccurate perceptions based on the
association of physical or other
characteristics with personality traits
Assumed similarity: thinking that
others who share one characteristic with
you also share others
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Attributions
Attributions: reasons we give for our
own and others’ behavior
Situational attribution: attributing
behavior to an external situation, outside
of a person’s control
Dispositional attribution:
attributing behavior to someone’s
internal disposition or personality
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Person-Perception
Biases
Person-Perception Biases – selective
perception, stereotyping, halo effects, forced
consistency, projection, and fundamental attribution
error
Selective Perception – inaccurately paying
attention only to what we expect to see or hear and
ignoring what we don’t expect
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Stereotyping
Prejudice –
stereotyping based on the
characteristics of a person’s group
Discrimination – acting differently toward a
person based on prejudice
Racism, Ethnocentrism, Heterosexism,
Sexism, Ageism, Able-ism – belief that the
behaviors or characteristics of one group are inherently
superior to those of another
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More Biases
Halo effects –
thinking a person has a whole set
of related personality traits when only one trait has
actually been observed
Forced consistency – interpreting conflicting
different perceptions of another person so our
interpretation of what we see remains consistent
Projection – thinking that someone who is like us in
one respect will share other characteristics and attitudes
Fundamental attribution error – ascribing
others’ negative behavior to their dispositions while
ascribing our negative behavior to the situation
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Improving Social
Perceptions
• Question the accuracy of perceptions.
• Seek more information.
• Use conscious processing.
• Realize that perceptions change.
• Use perception checking.
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Self-Perception
Self-concept –
your
perception of your competencies and
personality traits
Self-esteem –
your evaluation of
your perceived competence and
personal worthiness
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Cultural & Self-Perception
Independent self-perception: viewing
traits, abilities, and personality as
internal and universally applicable
Interdependent self-perception:
viewing traits, abilities, and
personality as dependent upon the
situation
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Positive Self-Esteem
Perception of having a characteristic
+
Personal belief that the characteristic
is of positive value
=
Positive self-esteem
-Mruk
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Accuracy of Self-Concept
and Self-Esteem
•Incongruence: gap between selfperception and reality
•Self-fulfilling prophecies: events
that happen as the result of being
foretold, expected, or talked about
•Filtering messages: paying
attention only to messages that
reinforce our current self-concept
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Self-Perception and
Communication
Our self-perception
affects our
communication by
influencing our
messages to/about
ourselves and
to/about others.
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Self-Perception Online
Online
communication
attitudes influence
how much you
communicate
through social
media.
How comfortable are
you with. . .
• Digital selfdisclosure?
• Digital social
connection?
• Convenience?
• Digital apprehension?
• Miscommunication?
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Social Media: the Human Factor
• Self-disclosure provides opportunities
for connection.
• Remember that miscommunication can
occur.
• Convenience is both an opportunity and
a challenge.
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