Your reflection paper should be 2 pages, typed, double-spaced, size 12 font, with one inch margins all around, and in essay format. DO NOT just list answers to the questions (should be in essay format). Answer the following questions in your reflection p

Perceiving Others

CHAPTER 4

THE PERCEPTION PROCESS

Section 1

Interplay

The Perception Process

Reality is constructed First-order realities

Physically observable qualities of a thing or situation Second-order realities

Attaching meaning to first-order things or situations Second-order realities don’t reside in objects or events but rather
 in our minds

Steps in the Perception Process

Selection We “select” which data we will attend to How does the following stimuli influence our selections?

Intensity Repetition Contrast

Steps in the Perception Process

Organization Perceptual Schema

Physical constructs Role constructs Interaction constructs Psychological constructs

How are these constructs used to 
 organize information?

Steps in the Perception Process

Interpretation: Attaching meaning to data Considerations:

Relational satisfaction Expectations Personal experience Assumptions about human behavior

Negotiation: Process by which communicators influence each other’s perceptions through communication

Narratives: Personal stories created to make sense of our personal world

INFLUENCES ON PERCEPTION

Section 2

Interplay

Influences on Perception

How we select, organize, interpret, and negotiate data is influenced by: Access to information Physiological influences

The senses Age Health and fatigue Biological cycles Hunger Neurobehavioral challenges

Psychological Influences

How we select, organize, interpret, and 
 negotiate data is also influenced by:

Psychological influences Mood Self-concept

Social influences Sex and gender roles Occupational roles Relational roles

Cultural Influences

Culture influences selection, organization, interpretation, and negotiation. Provide an example of a cultural difference influencing perception. What other cultural norms and values (covered in Interplay, Chapter 2) may influence perceptions?

COMMON TENDENCIES IN PERCEPTION

Section 3

Interplay

Common Tendencies in Perception

We make snap judgments Stereotyping: Exaggerated beliefs associated with a categorizing system Three characteristics:

Categorizing others on the basis of easily recognizable but not necessarily significant characteristics Ascribing a set of characteristics to most or all members of a group Applying the generalizations to a particular person

Common Tendencies in Perception

We cling to first impressions Primacy effect: Tendency to pay more attention to and recall things that happen first 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

Common Tendencies in Perception

We judge ourselves more charitably than we 
 do others

Self-serving bias We are influenced by our expectations We are influenced by the obvious We assume others are like us

SYNCHRONIZING OUR PERCEPTIONS

Section 4

Interplay

Perception Checking

Three parts: Describe the behavior you noticed. Consider at least two possible interpretations of the behavior. Request clarification about how to interpret the behavior.

Building Empathy

Empathy defined Ability to re-create another person’s perspective, to
 experience the world from his/her point of view

Experiencing Empathy Interact with others

Empathy and Ethics Bystanders who feel empathy are
 more likely to intervene Treatment for offenders involves
 instilling empathy