Perception

1
Perception

• Or
• How We Create Meaning

2
Perception is a PROCESS.

• Selection
• Organization
• Interpretation
• Negotiation

3
Selection
Determining what cues to attend to . . . or
ignore

• Intense stimuli
• Repetitious stimuli
• Contrast or change in stimulation
• Stimuli that relates to our interests or needs
  (motives)

4
Organization
Making sense through a lens

• Figure and ground
• Perceptual schema (classifications that often
  involve stereotyping, exaggerated beliefs
  associated with a categorizing system)

5
Perceptual Schema

• Physical constructs
• Role constructs
• Interaction constructs
• Psychological constructs
• Membership constructs

6
Interpretation
Reaching a conclusion

• Degree of involvement w/ the person
• Past experience
• Assumptions about human behavior
• Expectations

7
Interpretation

• Knowledge
• Self concept
• Relational satisfaction
• Personal mood

8
Negotiation

• Creating a shared meaning
• Often created through narratives

9
Perceptions are influenced by

• Physiological influences
• Senses
• Age
• Health
• Fatigue
• Hunger
• Biological cycles

10
Perceptions are influenced by

• Culture
• Social roles (gender, occupation)
• Self-concept

11
Perceptual errors include

• We often judge ourselves more charitably than
  others
• We cling to first impressions, even when wrong
• We tend to make frozen evaluations
• We tend to favor negative impressions over
  positive ones

12
To increase the accuracy of your perceptions

• Recognize perceptions are personally based
• Check your perceptions
• Describe the noticed behavior
• State at least two possible interpretations
• Request clarification about how to interpret the
  behavior

13
To increase the accuracy of your perceptions

• Seek to be empathetic (as opposed to
  sympathetic!)
• Empathy The ability to re-create another
  persons perspective, to experience the world
  from the others point of view. (p. 109)
• Sympathy Viewing the other persons situation
  from your point of view. (p. 111)

14
Perception Checking Practice

• You made an excellent suggestion to an
  instructor. The instructor looked uninterested
  but said she would check on the matter right
  away. Three weeks have passed and nothing has
  changed.
• A neighbor and good friend has not responded to
  your Good morning for three days in a row. This
  person is usually friendly.