Perceiving the self and others…. CHAPTER 2

MAKING SENSE OF YOUR WORLD Sometimes our perception of our world, others and ourselves, can be true or flawed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PECmXi8dv9s

Encounters of the fastest kind… How fast are your perceptions or first impressions made? The process of gathering, processing and organizing information you receive about everything around you. This process can take place over time or in seconds. Selecting Information: As we witness information, we are faced with choosing the most important information. We do not always select the same information. ex. Witnesses of an accident This is because we each individual organizes the memories into existing memory bases -- schemas

Schemas: Organizing Perceptions New information process it organize it fits into existing information Everyone has different existing information  they select different information to focus on as they process and organize This leads to people having different memories and different understandings of situations. These mental constructs create meaning at a more complex level.

Function of Schemas Schemas help us understand how things work. We seek patterns to determine how our environment works and how we should respond to various scenarios in our environments. As you age, experience new situations and grow in eduction you create more schemas. This enable people to react more comfortably to situations, which may have scared them or worried them before.

Challenges with schemas and perception Schemas process are critical to competent communication *They help us quickly process communications we have processed before. *Mindlessness – processing the task passively. -Helpful in some situations -Signs of mindlessness: reduced cognitive activity, inaccurate recall and uncritical evaluation. -Mindless process, do not question the information that is being received.

Challenges with schemas and perceptions Selective perception: active, critical perception of information coming and being received. Existing or missing schemas will impact the perceptions and also judgements resulting from existing schemas. Undue influence: giving greater credibility or importance to something shown or said. Attributions: When something said or done doesn’t fit our schemas we attempt to try to explain it. External – something outside of someone’s control Internal –something within someone’s control

Problems with attributions Fundamental attribution error: the tendency to overemphasize the internal or external causes of behavior depending on our self-serving bias. Success based on self Failure based on someone else Interaction appearance theory: explains how people change their attributions of someone the more they interact. People become more or less attractive, the more we know them.

Improving your perceptions…. It is not easy to make accurate perceptions. Changing perceptions can be difficult – even when we know they are wrong. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cdc13CU9Fc Verify perceptions – be sure that you perceive the situations correctly Be thoughtful when seeking explanations – The obvious answer may not be correct. Look beyond first impressions

Perceptions in new or diverse situations As technology connect us – we are exposed to new cultures and new ideas How we interpret information is related to our culture and the culture we are interpreting Different actions or no action mean very different things in different cultures. Being mindful of the situation and perceptions make a big difference.

Narrow Perspectives It can be hard to understand situations we are not a part of. Cultural myopia – a nearsightedness grounded in the belief that one’s own culture is appropriate and relevant in all situations and to all people It can happen to all people in small or large areas and in various group sizes.

Stereotyping and prejudice Stereotyping – fitting individuals into an existing schema without adjusting the schema appropriately. It allows one to sort and organize people into categories, so that you can generalize about their behavior, attitutes, skills, morals and habits. Why do stereotypes exist? Why do they continue? Prejudice – deep seated and ill will toward particular groups It can allow one to protect their views/behaviors while abusing those of other people.

Cognition Self Concept –your understanding of who you are – thoughts, actions, abilities, values, goals Influences your interactions with others Direct evidence -- compliments, insults, support or negative remarks Indirect evidence – influences your self-concept might be influenced by gossip, subtle non-verbal cues or a lack of communication. Social Comparison Theory: We compare ourselves to others as we develop ideas about ourselves.

Self-Esteem – Self--Efficacy Self esteem – how you feel about yourself Self concept /self esteem – you have to know your self before you can have feelings about yourself. Self-efficacy – your perception about your effectiveness in life and in communication exchanges. Very high levels of self-efficacy can lead to over- confidence. Some can feel more confident in texting communications, as they feel more confident in their how they present themselves.

Interpreting events/self-fulfilling prophecies Low self efficacy can effect your ability to cope with failure and stress It can cause you to dwell on your shortcomings, which can impact self esteem. This can cause a downward spiral Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Low self efficacy can cause alteration of behaviors, which make the prediction more likely occur. Taking action to counteract the prediction can change self efficacy.

Assessing our Perceptions of self Self-Actualization: Positive evaluation made about your confidence levels – realizing and pursuing one’s potential Self-Adequacy: When a person feels their skills are sufficient or acceptable. Self-Denigration: The act of criticizing or attacking yourself (We can avoid this by remembering when you have done something well.)

Behavior: Managing our Identities Cognition: Self-concept Self-esteem Self-efficacy Behavior Self-Preservation Self-Disclosure Assessment Self-Actualization Self-adequacy Self-Denigration FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS

BEHAVIOR -- IDENTITIES Self-Preservation – intentional communication designed to let others know about you, sometimes for strategic purposes. Self-monitoring: Evaluating and watching your environment for cues on how to present yourself in particular situations. Low- self-monitoring individuals often are not as sensitive to situational cues that prescribe certain behaviors. Self-Disclosure: Sharing information about yourself that is not easily known by others and is voluntary.

Technology: managing self/perceptions Technology allows both others and ourselves to present someone other than our true selves. Have you ever looked at someone’s profile or posts and wished your life was just like theirs? Only you discover later – things are going really badly for them. Do you compare your private moments to others “public” moments? Find yourself coming up short? The internet allows people to change, experiment and present their “best” airbrushed selves.