The Perception Process Perception is the process of selecting cues from the environment, organizing these cues into some coherent pattern, and interpreting the pattern.

Stimulation / Selection Selective exposure: We expose ourselves to people and messages that confirm our existing beliefs, values, and attitudes. Selective attention: We focus on certain cues but ignore others. Selective perception: We tend to see and hear what we want to believe. Selective retention: We tend to remember whatever reinforces our thinking and forget what we find objectionable.

ORGANIZING To make sense of situations we select information from our environment and organize it to form meaningful patterns; PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTS / SCHEMATA  ROLE CONSTRUCTS INTERACTION CONSTRUCT PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSTRUCTS 

RIGID CATEGORIES INHIBIT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION It's important to remember that we created the categories in the first place and that the differences between the categories are a result of how we created them.

Generalization versus stereotyping Generalization is the result of normal learning process. Through our everyday experiences we learn how people behave. Stereotyping is assuming that the characteristics associated with the group apply to all individuals in the group.

INTERPRETATION Adding a meaning (explanation) to the selected categories/situations Of course you need to remember that by selecting and organizing you made some interpretation already.

Factors influencing interpretation The degree of involvement The degree of knowledge   Past experiences Expectations Assumptions about human behavior Your mood

Making Attributions Attributions are our explanations for why others behave as they do or what causes them to behave the way they do.

Errors in Attributions Self-Serving / Egocentric Bias: a mechanism designed to preserve self-esteem. We take credit for positive / deny responsibility for negative. Fundamental Attribution Error: Overvalue the influence of internal factors / undervalue external factors. Premature Closure: we cling to first impressions Over-attribution: the tendency to single out 1-2 obvious characteristics and attribute everything to them.

Errors in Attributions Halo effect: Tendency to form an overall positive impression of a person on the basis of one positive characteristic. Confirmation bias: We seek out and organize our impressions to support an opinion.

Uncertainty Reduction Strategies PASSIVE STRATEGIES: we take the role of unobtrusive observers and do not participate in the situation. ACTIVE STRATEGIES: we actively seek information by asking questions about the individual. INTERACTIVE STRATEGIES: we communicate directly with the person by asking questions etc.

PERCEPTION CHECKING describe others' behavior; give your interpretation of the other's thoughts and/or feelings (refraining from evaluating or judging - be objective, try to include other options); ask the other if our perceptions and interpretations are accurate. Ask for clarification