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 punctuation, 77 fundamental attribution error, 81 actor-observer effect, 81
self-serving bias, 82
Uncertainty Reduction Theory, 82 implicit personality theories, 92 |
interpersonal impressions, 92
halo effect, 95
horn effect, 95
algebraic impressions, 95
empathy, 99 You can watch brief, illustrative videos of these terms and test your understanding of the concepts by clicking on the VideoCentral features in the chapter. |
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- We make sense of our interpersonal world through perception, a process during which we engage in selection, organization, and interpretation of information received from our senses. This process begins when we focus our attention on certain things, a decision guided by salience.
- When we mentally organize information related to interpersonal encounters, we order this information into a chronological sequence that reflects how we experienced the event. When people disagree on punctuation, conflicts can arise.
- We interpret the meaning of communication in part by drawing on known information stored in our mental schemata. We also make attributions regarding why people said and did certain things. Sometimes we fall prey to the fundamental attribution error, the actor-observer effect, and the self-serving bias, all of which draw us away from interpreting communication accurately.
- According to Uncertainty Reduction Theory,we commonly experience uncertainty during first encounters with new acquaintances. A number of strategies are available for reducing uncertainty, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.
- Culture plays a major role in shaping our perception of communication. When we perceive people as ingroupers, we typically view them and their communication more positively than if we perceive them as outgroupers.
- Although few gender differences actually exist in how people communicate, people perceive the communication of men and women in very different ways.
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Personality influences our perception of the traits we possess and how we perceive the traits of others. Implicit personality theories help guide our perceptions of others’ personalities. Sometimes they lead us to presume in others traits that they actually don’t possess, resulting in ineffective and inappropriate communication.
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Forming Impressions of Others
- When we perceive others, we form interpersonal impressions. Sometimes we create general Gestalts, which quite often are positive, thanks to the positivity bias.
- The negativity effect plays an important role in shaping how we perceive information that we learn about others.
- When we form strong positive or negative Gestalts, this sometimes leads to a halo effect or a horn effect. Both of these cause us to perceive subsequent information we learn about people in distorted ways.
- The most accurate and refined impressions of others are algebraic impressions. When we carefully calculate our impressions based on each individual trait, we’re more likely to see people as they really are and be able to adapt our communication accordingly.
- The most common form of interpersonal impression is stereotyping because the first thing we perceive about people is often their social group membership.
Improving Your Perception of Others
- You can improve your perception and communication by feeling and expressing empathy. When you can take the perspective of others and experience empathic concern toward them, your communication naturally becomes more sensitive and adaptive.
- Embracing world-mindedness by accepting others’ cultural expressions without judgment is the opposite of ethnocentrism.
- Responsible perception is rooted in perception-checking, routinely questioning your own perceptions and correcting errors that may lead to ineffective communication.
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- Ever experience disputes regarding “who started it”? See pages 77-78 to find out why, as well as how such conflicts can be avoided.
- Want to improve your attribution accuracy when online? Check out the Skills Practice on page 81.
- How can you reduce uncertainty during first encounters? Learn the different strategies and their advantages and disadvantages on pages 82-84.
- Curious about personality and how it shapes perception? Take the Self-Quiz on page 91, and read about the effects of personality on perception on pages 89-92.
- Why do people think first impressions are so important? Review the importance of first impressions and negative information in shaping impressions on pages 92-95, as well as the risks associated with placing too much emphasis on this information.
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- Want to form more accurate, balanced, and flexible impressions of others? Learn how by reading pages 95-96 and completing the Skills Practice on page 96.
- Not sure how to effectively express empathy toward others? Try the Skills Practice on page 100 for suggestions on how to experience and express empathy.
- Are you an empathic person? Take the Self-Quiz on page 100 to discover your level of perspective-taking and empathic concern.
- Want to master a straightforward process for checking your perceptual accuracy? Consult the steps of perception-checking on pages 101 and 104.
- How would you communicate with a difficult group member you perceive as an outgrouper? Work through Making Relationship Choices on pages 102-103 to find out.
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