Verderber, Verderber, Sellnow

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Chapter 2 Perception of Self

and Others

Learning Outcomes

LO1 Discover how the perception process worksLO2 Examine how self-perception is formed and

maintainedLO3 Describe how we form perceptions of othersLO4 Discuss how to increase the accuracy of our

perception of self and othersLO5 Analyze how perception influences and is

influenced by communication

LO1

Discover how the perception process

works

PerceptionThe process of selectively

attending to information and assigning meaning to it.

LO1

Attention and Selection

Choice of sensory stimuli depends on:

• Needs• Interests• Expectations

LO1

OrganizationNumber of stimuli we attend to is substantial. Brain organizes stimuli using:

• Simplicity

• PatternLO1

InterpretationAs the brain selects and organizes information, it also interprets the

information by assigning meaning to it.

LO1

Dual Processing• Our capacity to take in and process

information is limited• Mind developed two-pronged approach•Automatic processing – heuristics

•Conscious processing - deliberative LO1

LO2

Examine how self-perception is formed and maintained

Perception of Self

• Self-perception– Overall view we have of ourselves– Self-concept

• Perception of our skills, abilities, etc.– Self-esteem

• Evaluation we make about our personal worthiness based on self-concept

LO2

Self-Concept

• Personal experiences critical to forming–Positive first experiences–Negative first experiences

LO2

Self-Concept

• Shaped by how others react and respond to us– Use comments to validate or alter

perceptions– Feedback may reveal abilities never

before associated with ourselves• Reactions from someone we respect are

more powerful

LO2

Ideal Self-Concept

• As interact with others, form ideal self-concept– What we would like to be

LO2

Self-Esteem

• Our positive or negative evaluation of our competencies and traits

• Importance we place on what we do well or poorly

LO2

Cultural Norms and Self-Perceptions

• Cultural norms play a critical role in shaping self-concept and self-esteem– Independent-self perceptions

• Based on belief traits internal to person

– Interdependent-self perceptions• Based on belief traits that are

specific to a particular context or relationship

LO2

Cultural Norms and Self-Perceptions

Cultural norms play a role in shaping self-perception around masculine and feminine self-

perception.

LO2

Cultural Norms and Self-Perceptions

• Some people involved in more than one cultural group• May develop both types of self-perception•Switch “cultural frames”

LO2

Accuracy and Distortion

•Incongruence• Self-fulfilling prophecies• Filtering messages• Media images

LO2

LO5

Discuss how perception influences and is influenced by

communication

Self-Perception and Communication

• Self-talk– Internal conversation have with

ourselves• Positive self-perception = positive

self-talk• Negative self-perception = negative

self-talk

LO5

Self-Perception and Communication

• Talk about others–Positive self-perception = take

credit for success–Self-perceptions influence how we

talk about ourselves with others

LO5

Self-Perception and Communication

• Influences how talk about others to ourselves–More accurate self-perception =

more likely to perceive others accurately

–More positive self-perception = more likely to see others favorably

LO5

Self-Perception and Communication

• Social construction of self–Presenting different aspects of self-concept based on situation and people involved

LO5

Self-Perception and Communication

• Self-monitoring–Internal process of being aware of how coming across to others and adjusting behavior

LO5

Changing Self-Perceptions•Fairly enduring characteristics,

but can be changed– Therapy and self-help techniques

• Improving self-perception will improve how you interact with others and, thus, your self-perception

LO5

LO3

Describe how we form perceptions of others

Uncertainty Reduction

– Theory that explains how individuals monitor social environment to know more about themselves and others

– As reduce uncertainty, become more comfortable

LO3

Forming Impressions

• Physical appearance• Implicit personality theory• Assumed similarity

LO3

Making Attributions

• Reasons give for others and own behavior

• Situational attribution• Dispositional attribution

LO3

Inaccurate and Distorted Perceptions

• Selective perception• Forced consistency• Prejudice

–Stereotypes–Discrimination

LO3

LO4

Discuss how to increase the

accuracy of our perception of self

and others

Improving Perceptions

• Question accuracy of perceptions.• Use conscious processing.• Seek more information. • Realize perceptions will change

over time. • Seek clarification by perception

checking.

LO4