Perception

Tamara ArringtonCOM 252

University of Kentucky

Communication and Perception

•Perception is how I/you look at the world as individuals

•Basically the study of perception shows that we all see differently. Why?

•Sexual orientation? Age? Culture? Self Concept? Religion? Gender?Political party?

Perception and the WomenWhat do you see?

Now to the next slide. What do you see? First impression.

Perception and the Vase or ?So, what do you see?

Can you see both at the same time? Why or why not?

So, what have we learned so far about perception?

At least:

1. We can focus on only one thing at a time.

2. We see what we are.

3. Anything else?

The next slide adds to the list.

Accuracy and Inaccuracy of Perception

Is influenced by:1. First impression 2. That which is obvious3. Similar to us4. Negative5. Blaming the victim6. Stereotypes7. Attribution error8. Health or Fatigue9. Age10. Biological cycles11. Mood12. Sex and Gender Roles13. Occupation14. Culture

So, do men and women see differently or have unique perceptual screens?

Why? How?

In other words, is perception biological or cultural?

Does it matter? Why?

How does perception affect communication between men and women?

3 Stages of Perception

• Selection – selecting only certain stimuli (we would have overload if we didn’t) – often influenced by intensity, contrast, or CHANGE

• Organization – categorizing and sorting (like cubby holes in a mailroom)

• Interpretation – attaching meaning in an effort to “make sense” of it

Filters

Affect how we organize, process, and perceive information

4 Types of Filters

• Physiological – what we are physically able to perceive

• Psychological – predisposition to respond in a certain way

• Position in Space – location in time and space

• Past Experience – we perceive what we learn to perceive

Expectations & IdealsExpectations – what youthink/imagine will happen

Ideals - The way youthink people shouldbehave and how“things ought to be”.

The Obvious

• Intense• Unusual• Repetitious• Attention-grabbing

Your Past

Expectations of how people do behave and what you expect of others in a given situation

Travel

College education

Past relationships

Self-Concept

Beliefs about who you are or would like to be and what you expect of others in this situation

www.myjanee.com/tuts/ filter/makemeugly.jpg

Expectations & Obligations

What you think others expect of you in this situation

Sentiments

Your loyalties, prejudices, likes, and dislikes of individuals or groups

Stereotyping

Applying generalizations to everyone (generally negative)

The average Kentuckian?Al Jolson in blackface

Stereotyping is a Four-Step Process

1) Begins by categorizing people into groups2) Infer that all people in a category possess

similar traits or characteristics3) Form expectations of others and interpret

their behavior according to stereotypes4) Stereotypes are maintained

First ImpressionsHalo-Effect

Regarding things in a more positive regard based on first impressions

                                           

Fact/Inference

Confusing the “known” with the “believed”

Primacy/Recency

We remember that which occurred first & last

               

How can we perceive others more accurately?

Perception Checking

• Describe the behavior• Give two possible

interpretations of that behavior

• Request clarification about how to interpret that behavior.

Empathy

“the ability to recreate another person’s perspective, and to experience the world from his/her point of view”

   

                                                                        

 

     

     

     

     

   

The “empathy belly”

Empathy• Perspective taking• Emotional contagion• Genuine concern

www.shalinibosbyshell.com/ html/about_shalini.html