Interpersonal Communication and Perception Perception: The process of experiencing your world and then making sense out of what you experience.

The Perception Process Selecting: Focusing our awareness on certain stimuli. Organizing: Assembling the stimuli into convenient and efficient patterns. Interpreting: Assigning meaning

Selection Stimuli that is intense attracts our attention. (We are more likely to remember extremes) Repetitive stimuli also attracts our attention. We are also are attentive to contrast, or change in people. (When someone changes how friendly they are toward you, for example). (Coon, 2009)

Organization Four Types of Schema (Freeman and Ambady, 2011) Physical Constructs classify people according to their appearance. Role Constructs use social position (student, attorney, spouse). Interaction Constructs focus on social behavior (friendly, helpful, deceitful). Psychological constructs refer to internal states of mind (happy, calm, confident).

Interpretation Expectation is a significant factor that shapes our interpretations (Burgoon and Burgoon 2001). If I expect you to play, or act like I do, and you don’t, the interpretation can be affected.

Theories of Interpretation Standpoint Theory Impression Formation Theory Implicit Personality Theory Attribution Theory

Attribution Theory We ascribe a person’s actions to circumstances, a stimulus, or the person. (We often try to understand the intent of a person) circumstance= the situation leaves no choice. Ex. He played the wrong card because he is a cheater who only cares about winning. “He didn’t go to class because he was bored by it.” Social Psychologist, Fritz Heider- “We are naive social psychologists.”

Implicit Personality Theory We use a personal set of assumptions to draw specific conclusions about someone’s personality. If she is intelligent, then she must be caring too. The “Halo Effect” may occur if we like the person. The “Horn Effect” may be the result as well.

Standpoint Theory We interpret the behavior of others through the lens of our own social position, power, or cultural background. Ex. Because my group’s trump was a heart, anyone who plays differently is wrong. Ex. Because my religion follows specific rules, anyone who interprets the world differently is wrong. Georg Hegel (The Philosopher) was interested in how one’s standpoint regarding power influences their perception of the world. ex. Privilege

Impression FormationTheory We form general perceptions of others based on physical qualities, behaviors, and disclosed information. Researchers say the first impression is emphasized. Example: Categorizing people as nice, friendly, shy, handsome, or cheaters!

Barriers to Accurate Perception Ignoring Information- giving too much weight to the obvious and superficial information. Stereotyping- allowing our pre-existing rigid expectations about others to influence our perceptions Imposing Consistency- overestimating the consistency of one’s behavior. Focusing on the Negative- we give more weight to negative information than positive. Blaming Others/Avoiding responsibility- saving face by blaming others

Perception Checking Indirect Perception Checking: Seeking additional information by observing, listening to confirm, or refute your perception. Direct Perception Checking: Asking someone directly if your perception is accurate, or not.

Discussion Reflect on the Barnga Card game. What is meant by the phrase, “culture sneaks up on us?” Give an example of culture difference “sneaking up” on you when communicating with someone. Did you judge anyone who wasn’t playing the game by the same rules as you were? What were your thoughts when you saw someone play differently? What can be learned about difference by playing the card game? Discuss and give an example from your experience of: Attribution theory Implicit personality theory Standpoint theory

Dr. John Gottman 40 years of research- APA named him one of the top ten influential therapists in the country. 3,000 couples Published 200 academic journal articles 46 books published, including New York times bestsellers. Professor at University of Washington and founder of the Gottman institute.

The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse (Gottman 1999) “When these four horseman ride into a relationship, the end is near.” Criticizing (destructive instead of the constructive complaint) Defensiveness- a desire to protect yourself. Stonewalling- “I’m not here” type of behavior Contempt-Putting yourself on a “higher plane” than the other. You express your “superiority” to your partner.

1. Dr. Gottman explains that we like to "diagnose our partner's personality defects" during this stage. 2. Which of the "Four Horseman" is the best predictor of divorce according to Dr. Gottman?