PERCEPTION

OBJECTIVES Understand how prejudices, assumptions and self-concepts influence perception Understand how prejudices, assumptions and self-concepts influence perception

W W W olff’s ord of the eek Self-awareness

A STREAK OF LIGHT It is a beautiful, warm evening It is a beautiful, warm evening You and your loved one are sitting next to each other looking at the sky You and your loved one are sitting next to each other looking at the sky There are no clouds to hinder your view There are no clouds to hinder your view All of a sudden you see a streak of light All of a sudden you see a streak of light

WHERE ARE YOU?

YOU ARE ON A BEACH AND IT IS A WARM JULY 4TH NIGHT

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

LADDER OF INFERENCE I take ACTIONS based on my beliefs I adopt BELIEFS about the world I draw CONCLUSIONS I make ASSUMPTIONS based on the meanings I added I add MEANINGS (cultural and personal) I select DATA from what I observe OBSERVABLE DATA AND EXPERIENCES

LADDER OF INFERENCE: EXAMPLE 1 I go to the beach on July 4th to watch the fireworks display (ACTION) Towns celebrate July 4th with a fireworks display (BELIEFS) The town must be having a fireworks display (CONCLUSIONS) The light must be from fireworks (ASSUMPTIONS) July 4th means fireworks (MEANING) You choose to focus on the streak of light (SELECTION) There are stars, a streak of light, the ground, etc. (DATA)

LADDER OF INFERENCE: EXAMPLE 2 We better not give John anything important to do. (ACTION) John is unreliable and does not care about this project. (BELIEFS) John has been late before. We can't count on John. (CONCLUSIONS) John knew when the meeting was. He deliberately came late. (ASSUMPTIONS) Lateness is unacceptable (MEANING) You focus on John's lateness (SELECTION) Our team called a meeting for 9pm. John came late but didn't say why. (DATA)

COMMON PERCEPTUAL ERRORS Selective perception Selective perception Halo effect Halo effect Projection Projection Stereotyping Stereotyping Recency effects Recency effects

PRACTICAL ACTIONS Become more self-aware about your thinking Become more self-aware about your thinking Get alternate perspectives Get alternate perspectives Make your perspective more visible Make your perspective more visible Ask what is the observable data Ask what is the observable data Ask what assumptions are you making Ask what assumptions are you making

WE DON’T SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE... WE SEE THINGS AS WE ARE -- Anais Nin

HOW MANY F’s ARE THERE? FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.

THERE ARE 6 F’s FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.

Write in Your Insight Journal: Use your insight journal to reflect on: Use your insight journal to reflect on: –Observe your interactions for a day –Examine the inferences and judgments you make

What do you remember from this picture (you will have 5 seconds)?

You are a parent and your teenage son just got his license. He wants to take your car to a party that starts at 9pm and ends at 1am. – Would you let your son borrow the car? – What would you tell him?

MBTI Extrovert Establishing Relations/ Source of Energy Introvert SensingGenerating InformationiNtuitive ThinkingMaking DecisionsFeeling JudgmentalChoosing PrioritiesPerceptive

Extrovert (E).....Introvert (I) ENERGIZING: Source of energy Extrovert (E): The person’s essential stimulation is from the environment -- the outer world of people and things Introvert (I): The person’s essential stimulation is from within -- the inner world of thought and reflections © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved.

Extrovert (E).....Introvert (I) ENERGIZING: Source of energy Extrovert (E): (75%) “I’m feeling blah and listless. Let’s call the gang and party!” Introvert(I): (25%) “I’m pooped from being around people all day. I need some down time to contemplate things before I can bounce back.”

Extroverts (E) and Introverts (I): Tendencies and Characteristics Often friendly, talkative, easy to know Often friendly, talkative, easy to know Expresses emotions Expresses emotions Needs relationships Needs relationships Acts, then reflects Acts, then reflects Gives breadth to life Gives breadth to life May seem shallow May seem shallow to I’s Often reserved, quiet, hard to get to know Often reserved, quiet, hard to get to know Bottles up emotions Bottles up emotions Needs privacy Needs privacy Reflects, then acts Reflects, then acts Gives depth to life Gives depth to life May seem withdrawn to E’s May seem withdrawn to E’s Extrovert Introvert

Sensor(S).....Intuitive (N) ATTENDING: Ways to Take in Information Sensors (S): The person prefers to perceive the immediate, real, practical facts of experience and life -- use of the five senses Intuitive (N): The person prefers to process information by way of a “sixth-sense” or hunches

Sensor (S).....Intuitive (N) ATTENDING: Ways to Take in Information Sensor (S): (75%) “I like what I can touch and feel. Give me facts. I don’t trust hunches.” Intuitive (N): (25%) “Talk to me about the possibilities. Give me your gut-level take on things.”

Who is High S/N? What did you remember about the picture?

Sensor (S) and Intuitive (N): Tendencies and Characteristics Looks at specific parts and pieces Looks at specific parts and pieces Lives in the present, enjoying what’s there Lives in the present, enjoying what’s there Prefers handling practical matters Prefers handling practical matters Likes things that are definite, measurable Likes things that are definite, measurable Looks at patterns and relationships Looks at patterns and relationships Lives toward the future, anticipating what might be Lives toward the future, anticipating what might be Prefers imagining possibilities Prefers imagining possibilities Likes opportunities for being inventive Likes opportunities for being inventivemore... Sensor Intuitive

Sensor (S) and Intuitive (N): Tendencies and Characteristics Starts at the beginning; takes a step at a time Starts at the beginning; takes a step at a time Works hands-on with the parts to see the overall design Works hands-on with the parts to see the overall design Likes set routines and procedures Likes set routines and procedures S’s may seem materialistic and literal-minded to N’s S’s may seem materialistic and literal-minded to N’s Jumps in process anywhere; leaps over steps Jumps in process anywhere; leaps over steps Studies the overall design to see how the parts fit together Studies the overall design to see how the parts fit together Likes change and variety Likes change and variety N’s may seem fickle, impractical dreamers to S’s N’s may seem fickle, impractical dreamers to S’s © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved. Sensor Intuitive

Thinking (T).....Feeling (F) WAYS TO DECIDE: Make judgments Thinking (T): The person prefers to make judgments and decisions objectively and impersonally, considering cause and effect. Feeling (F): The person prefers to make judgments and decisions subjectively and personally, weighing values of choices and how they matter to others.

Thinking (T).....Feeling (F) WAYS TO DECIDE: Make judgments Thinking (T): (50%) “We’ve done a thorough analysis and comparison. It’s clear: we go with option A.” Feeling (F): (50%) “I know we should go with option A, but think about how Pat will feel about this.”

Who is High T/F? What was your decision? What was your decision? What did you tell your son? What did you tell your son?

Thinking (T) and Feeling (F): Tendencies and Characteristics Decides with the head Decides with the head Goes by logic (unemotionally) Goes by logic (unemotionally) Concern for truth, justice Concern for truth, justice Sees things as an on- looker, from outside a situation Sees things as an on- looker, from outside a situation Decides with the heart Decides with the heart Goes by personal convictions Goes by personal convictions Concern for relationships, harmony Concern for relationships, harmony Sees things as a participant, from within a situation Sees things as a participant, from within a situationmore... Thinking Feeling

Thinking (T) and Feeling (F): Tendencies and Characteristics Takes a long-term view Takes a long-term view Spontaneously finds flaws, critical Spontaneously finds flaws, critical Good at analyzing plans Good at analyzing plans T’s may seem cold and condescending to F’s T’s may seem cold and condescending to F’s Takes an immediate and personal view Takes an immediate and personal view Spontaneously appreciates Spontaneously appreciates Good at understanding people Good at understanding people F’s may seem fuzzy- minded and overly emotional to T’s F’s may seem fuzzy- minded and overly emotional to T’s Thinking Feeling

Judgment (J).....Perception (P) LIVING: How one likes to live his/her life Judgment (J): The person prefers to live in a decisive, planned and orderly way, aiming to regulate and control events. Perception (P): The person prefers to live in a spontaneous, flexible way, aiming to understand life and adapt to it. © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved.

Judgment (J).....Perception (P) LIVING: How one likes to live his/her life Judging (J): (50%) “Let’s do a detailed project plan with milestones before we do another thing.” Perceiving(P): (50%) “Let’s do a project plan in a few weeks, after we’ve lived with the project for a while. Why box ourselves in?” © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved.

Who is High J/P? Come up to the front of the class and bring your wallet? Come up to the front of the class and bring your wallet? How do you have it organized? How do you have it organized?

Judging (J) and Perceiving (P): Tendencies and Characteristics Enjoys being decisive Enjoys being decisive Likes clear limits and categories Likes clear limits and categories Feels comfortable establishing closure Feels comfortable establishing closure Prefers an organized lifestyle Prefers an organized lifestyle Perceiving Enjoys being curious / surprised Enjoys being curious / surprised Likes freedom to explore; no limits Likes freedom to explore; no limits Feels comfortable with openness Feels comfortable with openness Prefers a flexible lifestyle Prefers a flexible lifestylemore... © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved. Judging

Judging (J) and Perceiving (P): Tendencies and Characteristics Likes definite order and structure Likes definite order and structure Likes to have life under control Likes to have life under control Handles deadlines, plans in advance Handles deadlines, plans in advance J’s may seem demanding, rigid, and uptight to P’s J’s may seem demanding, rigid, and uptight to P’s Likes going with the flow Likes going with the flow Prefers life to unfold real time Prefers life to unfold real time Meets deadlines by last- minute rush Meets deadlines by last- minute rush P’s may seem disorganized, messy, and irresponsible to J’s P’s may seem disorganized, messy, and irresponsible to J’s © 2002 Karen L. Rancourt, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University. All rights reserved. Judging Perceiving

Write in Your Insight Journal: Use your journal to think about interactions you have had that frustrated you. Use your journal to think about interactions you have had that frustrated you. What do you think the MBTI type of the other person was? What do you think the MBTI type of the other person was? Can you explain the frustrations in terms of differences in type? Can you explain the frustrations in terms of differences in type?