Chapter 2

Perception

Perception is Important

Differences in perception are widespread Not all differences are of equal importance Not everyone’s perceptions have equal status What does perception have to do with

communication?– You communicate your perceptions through

language– You use your perceptual filters to interpret

others’ messages– Your communication shapes your perceptions

of others

Perception Defined

Perception: the way in which an individual gives meaning to an object, messages or event

– Perception is a process

Objective reality: the actual object, message or event– You filter this through:

Past experiencesPrior knowledgePsychological state

Perception Defined

Subjective reality: Result of filtering Everyone interprets reality differently No two people have the exact same reality You need to communicate your reality to others in

a way they understand You need to be open to listening Goal is shared understanding

A Perception Model

Prior Knowledge– Knowledge base you’ve developed over years

of experience and education– Critical to making sense of what you see and

hear

Prior Experiences– Use to help you make sense of your world

A Perception Model

Psychological state– Identity: your sense of self as a unique

individual– You interact in relationship to the way you

define yourself– Ex. Men & women, wealthy & poor, young &

elderly– Identity includes personality traits– Based on external traits: marital status, job, etc.– Identity can impact your values and worldviews

A Perception Model

– Values reflect what you see as good/bad, right/wrong

– World views are group-related value orientations

– Self-concept: how you view yourself– Emotional state: additional filter (ex.

Anxiety)– Physical variables: health, location,

weakened sense

A Perception Model

Prior Knowledge

Prior Experiences

Psychological State

Perceptual Processes (including selective attention, projection, stereotyping, halo effect, attributions, etc.)

= Subjective Reality

A Perception Model

Selective attention– We are bombarded by so many messages– Impossible to pay attention to them all– You make decisions to pay attention to some

more than others– We pay attention to message that are:

Thrust at us (ex. Loud noises, dazzling colors, pungent smells)

Interesting to usRelated to us specifically (ex. Name)

A Perception Model

Self-fulfilling prophecy– Role expectations play in your perceptions– You see what you want/expect to see– People tend to live up to expectations of

significant othersPositive or negative

– Stereotype threat: negative cultural stereotypes about a group can create a belief in the stereotypes among members

A Perception Model

Halo Effect, Attribution Error and Projection– Halo effect: occurs when you make assumptions

based upon limited informationPositive or negative

– Attribution error: attempt to attribute causes of events to either personalities or external situations

– Projection: tendency to see your own faults (or strengths) in others and point out those traits

A Perception Model

Concepts to minimize communication breakdowns resulting from perceptual differences– Recognize the distinction between objective and

subjective reality– Your differences in perception are rooted in

individual differences– How you look at differences matter– Communication is a central skill in the perception

process

Sharpening Your Perceptions

Facts/opinion confusion– Statements of fact:

Are based on observable sensory data

Are only about the past or present, never the future

Are objective and free from interpretations, conclusions or assumptions about what has been observed

Sharpening Your Perception

– Statements of opinion:Go beyond what has been observedAre about the past, present or futureInclude interpretations, conclusions or

assumptions about what has been observed and are subjective

– State your opinions by using an “I” message“I think,” “To me,” “From my point of view”

Sharpening Your Perception

Checking Perceptions– Responses to someone’s verbal/nonverbal

communication– They share an impression of the person’s message– Open-minded, non-evaluative statements that

invite a response– Help to verify assumptions or opinions– Provide a way to confirm what you are thinking

Sharpening Your Perception

How to phrase a clear perception check:– State your perception of another person’s behavior– Present the perception in an open-minded or

tentative way “I may be wrong,” “It seems”

– Express your perception in a non-evaluative way– Invite a response

Short question Rising inflection

Sharpening Your Perception

Learning conversations– Process for learning about the perceptions of

others– Debates: attempt to win, convince the other person

you are right – Dialogue: goal is to understand, not win and

requires a curiosity of others

Sharpening Your Perception

– Content messages: describe facts about what happen, often include assumptions

– Feeling messages: how someone feels, most likely expressed in body language

– Identity messages: how people see themselves and how they are affected

Sharpening Your Perception

– Purpose of learning conversations:Understanding another person’s point of viewSharing your point of viewUnderstanding/sharing feelingsWorking together to resolve a problemMove from “convincing” other person to

cultivating “curiosity” about others’ views

Sharpening Your Perception

– Phases of learning conversationsInvite the person to share his/her different

point of viewShare the differing points of view

– Ask for information about his/her experiences

– Paraphrase the speaker’s message – Focus on learning, not winning

Problem solving

Perception and Technology

New technology allows people to change and shape reality

Be critical of what you see and hear Call for media literacy awareness

– Media constructs messages to broadcast– Messages use creative language with specific rules– Messages are understood differently by different people– Decision-makers have their own points of view– Goal is usually more money and/or power

Perception and Technology

5 Questions for Critical Media Viewing Who created this message? What creative techniques were used to attract my

attention? How might other people understand this message

differently than I? What values, lifestyles, and points of view are

being represented in, or omitted from, this message?

Why is this message being sent?