PerceptionPerception: The process of gathering sensory information and assigning meaning to itand assigning meaning to it.

Interpersonal Perception: The process of gathering sensory information about people and assigning meaning to their actions.

Active vs. Passive Perception

Where does perception occur?

-- n o i s e --

SS MM CC RRencodes decodes

Three basic stages

Selection

Organization

Interpretation

Selecting amongst all those stimuliSelection is necessary (Selective perception)Selective attention – focusing on specificSelective attention – focusing on specific stimuli (active)Selective exposure – selecting what we are exposed to (active); reinforcementSelective recall – remembering or forgetting

What influences selection?

IntensityRepetition Repetition RepetitionC t t ChContrast or ChangeMotives/Interest/NeedsLimitation of the sensesExpectations

Selection: Motives

Selection: Expectations

I loveP i i th

Oncei

I loveP i i thParis in the

the springtime

Birdin the

the hand

in aa lifetime

Paris in thethe Springtime

Selection: Expectations

Finished Files are the Result of Years of Scientific Study Combined with the Experience of Many Years

Organization Imposing the Familiar on the Unfamiliar

Figure/GroundCategorizing/Patterns

Perceptual schemaPerceptual schema

PunctuationProximity

Closure (Good form)

Organization:Figure/Ground

Organization: Categorizing/Patterns

Organization: CategorizationPerceptual Schema

Physical constructs: appearanceRole constructs: social positionsInteraction constructs:Interaction constructs: social behaviorsPsychological constructs: psychological traitsMembership constructs: groups to which people belong

Organization: Punctuation

Where does it begin? End? What goes together?

191655512121 916 555 1212

191- 65.551*2x1x2

Organization: Punctuation (Proximity)

Organization: Closure/Good Form

Organization: Closure/Good Form

Organizing, then Interpreting

Interpretation

The process of explaining what

QAK

has been selected and organized in a way that makes sense

10

10

J

J

Q

Q

A

K

Interpretation

Factors Affecting Interpretation

Relational satisfactionPersonal moods Past experiencePast experienceAssumptions about human behaviorExpectationsKnowledge

Interpretation: Past Experience

Interpretation: Knowledge?

Hi & Lois by Brian & Greg Walker & Chris Brown

Mom: “It’s only 5:30 a.m.”Daughter: “You said yesterday was the longest day of the year!”

Son: “So, if today is shorter, we have to get up earlier!”

Interpretation: Knowledge?“…Well, currently I’m

in between meals, er, I mean, relationships ”relationships.

Praying Mantis First Dates

Putting it all together as we perceive others

Perception creates impressions (impression formation theory)

Can be based upon the order we receive pinformation (primacy & recency effects)

We generalize based upon perceptions (implicit personality theory)We interpret based upon perceptions

Motives (attribution theory)Comparison with self (standpoint theory)

Impression Formation TheoryImpression Formation TheoryHow you develop perceptions about people; how you maintain & use those perceptions to interpret their behavior.perceptions to interpret their behavior.

Primacy Effect - The first impression we receive about a person is the most decisive in forming our impression

Recency Effect – The last impression we receive about a person is also decisive in forming our impression

Primacy Effect: ExamplePeople who know him consider him to be a rather WARM person: intelligent, skillful industrious, determined, practical and cautious.

People who know him consider him to be a rather COLD person: intelligent, skillful industrious, determined, practical and cautious.

Implicit Personality TheoryImplicit Personality TheoryYour own set of beliefs and hypotheses about what people are like

Halo effect – attributing a variety ofHalo effect – attributing a variety of positive qualities to those you like

Horn Effect - attributing a variety of negative qualities to those you like

Construct – A bipolar quality you associate with people as you conceptualize them.

Attribution TheoryAttribution TheoryAttribution Theory – Develop in the most credible explanation for the behavior of others

Causal Attribution Theory – What caused the person’s actions?

CircumstanceStimuliPerson himself/herself

cause of behavior

StandpointStandpointTheoryTheory

Who you are influences your perception ofperception of others

Factors Influencing theOVERALL Perceptual Process

Physiological influencesCultural influencesSocial rolesSelf Concept

Influences: Physiological (Age?)

Hi & Lois by Brian & Greg Walker & Chris Brown

Son: “Wow! Look at those icicles!”Father: “They’re not as big as the ones we had when I was a boy.”

Son: “Dad, bend down a minute…”

Son: “Good… Now look up.”Dad: “Wow, look at those icicles!”

Influences: Physiological

“This is nothing. When I was your age, the snow was so deep it came up to my chin.”

Influences: Culture

“I don’t understand it. Why didn’t he marry both of them?”

…are inaccurate

Perceptions….

and may differ among people.

Fundamental Perception ErrorsInsufficient informationExpectations/Stereotyping OvergeneralizingOversimplifyingImposing consistencyFocusing on the negativeFiltering via our own characteristicsAttribution errorSelf-serving bias

Improving perception skillsAvoid rushing to judgmentsBecome aware of others’ perceptions of YOUof YOUIncrease your awarenessBecome “other-oriented”Validate your perceptions

Validating Perception AccuracyIndirect Perception Checking – seeking additional information through passive perception

Multisensory Cross Check – use more than one sense to interpretConsensus – Compare your perceptions with those of other people (Look – Ask – Compare)

Direct Perception Checking – Consult the person you are perceiving

Consensus:How many squares?

Perception CheckA description of the behavior you noticedAt least two possible interpretations ofAt least two possible interpretations of the behaviorA request for clarification about how to interpret the behavior

Organization: Simplicity