Chapter 2 – Perception and Learning Part 1: Perception January 23, 2007

Perception Active processing of info – 3 stages 1. Selection – influenced by internal & external factors. –Internal – implications? –External – implications? –What is figural (salient) versus background (filler)?

Perception (stages cont…) 2. Organization –Use schemas to make sense and infer relationships among targets –Schemas differ between people –…how can they lead to differential perceptions?

3. Evaluation –Interpret events in subjective fashion – influenced by biases –Can be barrier to cross-cultural communication –Adler’s 3 sources of cultural misinterpretation What are each of these? Subconscious cultural blinders – Lack of cultural awareness – Projected similarity –

Attribution Process - Kelley Attribute actions to internal (trait) or external (situation) causes Consensus –defined as… Consistency – defined as… Distinctiveness – defined as…

Attribution Why is your friend complaining about her manager? Assume high consensus & distinctiveness, but low consistency – which attribution is predominant? Assume low consensus & distinctiveness, but high consistency – which attribution?

Attribution errors Self-serving bias –My success due to internal factors, failure due to external factors –Generalizability to other cultures? Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) –Opposite of self-serving (judging others) –Underestimate influence of situation (failure due to internal, not external, factors) Halo effect – favorable impression extends Performance appraisals and selection applications

Perceptions of Performance Appraisals DeNisi & Gonzalez (2004) – propose importance of ratee’s perceptions of the appraisal: How would each of these help? –1. importance of clear standards – –2. simple-to-use rating instruments – Example of performance diaries or incident logs

Stereotyping Dangers of relying on stereotype of group to categorize a person from that group Reasons stereotypes can become problematic? –1) –2) –3)

Johari Window One way to minimize biases by making people aware of their values, prejudices Divides info about you into 4 ‘windows’ based on whether your values/beliefs are known to you & others –Open, blind, hidden, unknown areas –Increase ‘open’ area through disclosing to others & others giving you feedback

Johari Window Known to self Unknown to self Known to others Open area Blind area Unknown to others Hidden area Unknown area Feedback Disclosure

Johari Window (cont.) Can work w/360 degree feedback program Problems: –1) –2) –3)

Dual Attitude System Wilson proposed we have implicit (subconscious) attitudes & explicit (stated) attitudes –Implicit attitudes parallel ‘unknown’ or ‘blind’ areas –Self-reports assess explicit – problems? –See –How does it measure each type of attitude?