CHAPTER 4Perceiving Others

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Section 1 THE PERCEPTION PROCESS

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The Perception Process How Reality is

constructed First-order realities =

Physically observable qualities of a thing or situation

Second-order realities = Attaching meaning to first-order things or situations Second-order realities

don’t reside in objects or events, but rather in our minds

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Steps in the Perception Process

There are four steps in the process:

1. Selection - of data2. Organization - of data 3. Interpretation – of

perceptions 4. Negotiation – of meaning

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Steps in the Perception Process

Selection We “select” which

data we will attend to.

The data we select is affected by: Intensity Repetition Contrast

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Steps in the Perception Process

We organize data using: Perceptual Schema = frameworks

(constructs) that allow us to give order to information Physical constructs – how people look Role constructs – social position Interaction constructs – how they

interact with us Psychological constructs – how they

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Steps in the Perception Process

Punctuation = Determination of causes and effects in a series of interactions Example:

Husband and wife argue Husband perceives wife

as a nag Wife complains husband

withdraws from her Each partner’s

“punctuation” affects perception of the dispute

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Steps in the Perception Process

Interpretation = Attaching meaning to data

Considerations: Relational satisfaction Expectations Personal experience Assumptions about

human behavior

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Steps in the Perception Process

Negotiation = Process by which communicators influence each other’s perceptions through communication We exchange narratives

Narratives = Personal stories created to make sense of our personal world Narratives include “heroes”

and “villains”

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Section 2INFLUENCES ON PERCEPTION

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Influences on Perception How we select, organize,

interpret, and negotiate data is influenced by: Access to information Physiological influences

The senses Age Health and fatigue Biological cycles Hunger Neurobehavioral challenges

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Influences on Perception Perception is also influenced by:

Psychological influences and moods Self-concept Social influences

standpoint theory = a person’s position in society shapes his/her view of specific individuals and of society in general. It’s based on:

Sex and gender roles – male/female, gay/straight Occupational roles – jobs and professions Relational roles – parent, child, sibling Socioeconomic class – upper and lower classes

Marginalized = more incentive to understand other perspectives

Powerful = less incentive to understand other perspectives

Cultural Influences Culture influences

selection, organization, interpretation, and negotiation.

In Chapter 2 we discussed cultural differences that affect perception

High Context v. Low Context Achievement v. Nurturing Collectivistic v Individualistic

Cultural norms affect how we perceive and interpret events

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Section 3COMMON TENDENCIES IN PERCEPTION

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Common Tendencies in Perception

We make snap judgments Stereotyping: Exaggerated beliefs associated

with a categorizing system Three characteristics:

Categorizing others on the basis of easily recognizable but not necessarily significant characteristics

Example: “Hispanic people are loud.” Ascribing a set of characteristics to most

or all members of a group Applying the generalizations to a

particular person

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Common Tendencies in Perception

We cling to first impressions Halo effect:

Tendency to form an overall positive impression of a person on the basis of one positive characteristic

Confirmation bias: We seek out and organize our impressions to support an opinion

Interplay, 13th Edition, Adler/Rosenfeld/ProctorCopyright © 2015 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Common Tendencies in Perception

We judge ourselves more charitably than we do others - Self-serving bias

We are influenced by our expectations.

We are influenced by the obvious.

We assume others are like us.

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Section 4SYNCHRONIZING OUR PERCEPTIONS

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Perception CheckingHow to check our assumptions (so we

don’t get the wrong idea about something): 1. Describe the behavior you noticed.2. Consider at least two possible

interpretations of the behavior.3. Request clarification about how to

interpret the behavior.

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Building Empathy Empathy = Ability to

re-create another person’s perspective, to experience the world from his/her point of view.

Empathy and Ethics Bystanders who feel

empathy are more likely to intervene

Treatment for offenders involves instilling empathy

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Building Empathy Requirements for empathy

Open-mindedness Imagination Commitment

COMM 11 Extra Credit Assignment #3: FOR 5 POINTS ON THE FINAL EXAM

Play the video: video. Write at least 100 words explaining what the segment is about. Answer

the following: Who is the woman and what is important about her? What did she do in the segment? What did she learn from this? How does building empathy play a role in the segment? How did the

women display the 3 requirements listed above? Explain.