COM2006

Interpersonal Perceptions Situation 1 Mariel is walking in the park when she notices a man sitting on the park bench in tattered clothes with a shopping cart filled with bags nearby. Mariel assumes that the man is homeless and that he will accost her for money. In reality, the man had just come home from the market after work and was dirty from his construction job. Situation 2 Jean and Susan have become fast friends. Jean, however, has just been jilted by her childhood friend and is anxious that Susan may eventually reject her. Susan reminds Jean of her childhood friend because they both have easygoing personalities. This causes Jean to limit her personal disclosure to Susan. Susan, not understanding Jean’s reticence, decides that Jean is not really interested in a friendship. Questions:

• What influences your interpersonal perceptions? • How would you increase your accuracy in interpersonal perception?

Expert Feedback In the first situation, using the Impression Formation Theory, Mariel could check her impressions about the man on the bench because she understands that people form impressions of others on the basis of physical appearance, behaviors, and prior experiences. Also, using the Predicted Outcome Value Theory, Mariel knows that she needs to be careful about making predictions from her perceptions when she has very little information about the other person. In the second situation, Jean’s reaction to Susan’s offer of friendship can be explained by the Implicit Personality Theory. The Implicit Personality Theory poses that we use a set of assumptions to form conclusions about someone’s personality traits. In this example, Jean was rejected by her easygoing childhood friend. This experience caused Jean to assume that Susan, who has the same easygoing temperament, could be untrustworthy. Recognizing how our past experiences influence our present perception is important.

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