Perception, Self, and Communication

What is Perception? “a cognitive process through which we interpret our experiences and come to our own unique understanding” (O’Hair, 2009). Active perception means that your mind selects, organizes, and interprets that which you sense. Subjective perception is your uniquely constructed meaning attributed to sensed stimuli.

For discussion Think of an event that recently occurred in your life in which your perception of what happened might be quite different from the perception of others.

Why do differences in perception occur? Physiological factors Past experiences and roles Culture and co-culture Present feeling and circumstances

For discussion Discuss a situation where your first impression of someone was not accurate. After getting to know the person, did your impression change?

Read Out Loud

Using Perception: Is it a young woman at her vanity mirror, or a gruesome skull? 

Can you find 5 horses in this picture?

Explanation You know when you meet people you have your initial impression. This impression can be completely faulty until you take the time to really understand and fully comprehend whom the person is that you are meeting. Going just by your initial impulse or initial judgment, does not give that person a chance to fully demonstrate to you, who that person is and what that person is really about. Remember: looks can be deceiving.

Now look at this picture: Do you see an old woman or young woman or can you see both?

Now look at this picture do you see the duck or the rabbit?

Explanation If you only look at the left side of things you will see the duck. But if you are on the right of things you will see the rabbit. Right or left, conservative or liberal, black or white are just perspectives which you bring to the situation. It is imperative to make good decisions, solve problems, and settle conflicts that you are able to set aside your strong biases so that you can get the whole picture into perspective. 

Summary You cannot always trust your initial perceptions because your brain has not caught up with all that it is decoding and translating. So please, slow down, be rational, test out your assumptions, let go of your stereotypes, and be open to reality the way it really is rather than the way you suspect or perceive it to be.

Now how about this picture: Do you see the man playing the horn, or the woman's silhouette or both?

Explanation When people go about "tooting their own horn" or acting in ways which are unseemly or impulsive, it is often hard to see the beauty within them. Are you always in a rush to make a quick assessment of a person on their brusqueness, impulsiveness, or abrasiveness. Or do you take time to get to understand where they are coming from so that you can see the beauty of who they are below the surface they present to you?

Perceptual errors Stereotyping First impressions

For discussion  What are some of the barriers for building positive self concept and how can they be overcome?

Who are you? Self-fulfilling prophecy: the idea that you behave and see yourself in ways that are consistent with how others see you. Johari Window (we will discuss more in Chapter 6, p.141.) Assist in understanding the importance of self-disclosure, including areas that are known to others; areas that are not known to others.

Self-actualization The fulfillment of one's potential as a person. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Self-evaluation Self-image: The picture you have of yourself; the sort of person you believe you are. Self-esteem: The feeling you have about your self-concept; that is, how well you lie and value yourself

For discussion What are some of the barriers for building positive self concept and how can they be overcome?

Improving self-concept Have a goal or objective Make your goal realistic Find information about how to achieve your goal Control and restraint Gain support from friends and family Accept yourself

For discussion  What is your self concept? Are there any areas of your self concept that you would like to improve?