2 Interpersonal Communication: Perception

Listening : “the process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages.” p. 175

Perception The process of selectively attending to sensory information and assigning meaning to it. (pg. 30) Our perception becomes our reality. 4

5 Attend

6 Three psychological factors that influence selection/attending: 1. Our needs 2. Our interests 3. Our expectations

A sensory test of expectations: Paris in the the springtime Once in a a lifetime Bird in the the hand

8 Attend Organize

9 Organization Simplicity--the brain simplifies complex stimuli into a commonly recognized form (what we expect to perceive) Pattern -- the brain organizes information according to patterns, sets of characteristics that differentiate some things from others. (differentiating by forming patterns)

i.e. telephone #’s, SS #’s, credit card #’s

11 Attend Organize Interpret

12 Interpretation The process of assigning meaning to the information that has been selected and organized

13 Social Perception aka Social Cognition A set of processes by which people perceive themselves and others.

Pause Here

15 Self-concept – Self-esteem -

16 Self-concept - Self-concept - the idea or mental image that we have about our skills, abilities, knowledge, competencies, and personality Self-esteem - Self-esteem - our overall evaluation of our competence and personal worthiness

17 Positive Self-Esteem Perception of having a characteristic + Personal belief that the characteristic is of positive value = Positive self-esteem -Mruk

18 Some Concept Definitions

Incongruence The gap between our inaccurate self-perceptions and reality

Self-fulfilling Prophecies Events that happen as the result of being foretold, expected, or talked about and that serve to reinforce an individual’s self-concept

21 Presenting Self We present our self-image to others through various roles we enact.

Role 3 - Role – A pattern of learned behaviors that people use to meet the perceived demands of a particular context 4 - Working self-concept 4 - Working self-concept – The specific aspects of your identity that are activated by the role you are enacting at a particular time

Stereotypes Simplified and standardized conceptions about the characteristics or expected behavior of members of an identifiable group

25 Prejudice – Discrimination – Racism, Sexism, Ageism, & Able-ism –

26 Prejudice – Prejudice – a preconceived judgment, belief or opinion that a person holds without sufficient grounds ( + or - ) Discrimination – Discrimination – treating members of one group differently from members of another in a way that is unfair or harmful Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Able-ism – Racism, Sexism, Ageism, Able-ism – belief that the behaviors or characteristics of one group are inherently superior to those of another

27 Factors that Influence Our Social Perceptions Physical characteristics, social behaviors, emotional states Cultural backgrounds Stereotyping Who we are and what our experiences have been

Improving Social Perceptions Come in Thursday prepared with a list of how we can “Improve Social Perceptions.” HINT: Read the textbook. 28

29 Improving Social Perceptions Seek more information Actively question the accuracy of perceptions (avoid mind reading) Realize that perceptions change Check perceptions verbally Realize that perception check is descriptive rather than judgmental

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