PERCEPTION

WHO ARE YOU? HOW DO YOU SEE THINGS? Perception is the process of being aware of and understanding the world Form, challenge, and reinforce ideas and beliefs Influences how we choose to interact with others Massive amounts of stimuli that must be processed

SELECTION Perception begins with those messages we choose to focus on and respond to Filter out things by being selective We can only pay attention to a small portion of stimuli Sensory overload; selection helps prevent it

SELECTIVE ATTENTION The process of focusing on one thing, while not paying attention to anything else Focusing on one event often involves ignoring events that are less expected

SELECTIVE EXPOSURE Exposing self to beliefs, values, and ideas that are similar to our own Netflix, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter Preference for messages that support personal positions / values (Fox News, MSNBC) Mood management (movies, music, etc.) Communicators play a role in choosing the types of messages they receive (ditch the negative; feel the pain)

SELECTIVE PERCEPTION When individuals filter what they see and hear to make it suit their own needs, biases, or expectations Relevance to self (hearing your name called, car you drive, etc.) Focusing on anticipated messages (Smith and Hubs)

SELECTIVE MEMORY Information we retain from interactions Memory is dynamic (evolve), creative (reconstructive; bits and pieces), and social (jointly construct memories of shared experiences)

ORGANIZATION After stimuli is selected, we must organize them so they construct meaning. Schemas: mental structures developed from experience (road maps; classification tool) Prototypes: best example of a category Stereotypes: generalizations of a category Interpersonal Constructs: opposing terms (friendly vs. hostile; more complex with experience; cognitive complexity) Scripts: sequences of action that define situations (protocol)

COGNITIVE COMPLEXITY Numerous (many interpersonal contructs) Abstract (more generalized; better for predicting behaviors) Organized (links various constructs; defines along many dimensions) Capable of handling contradictions / inconsistencies (prevents oversimplification of persons and or situations; Rate My Prof)

INTERPRETATION Giving meaning to information Ambiguous situations can be interpreted various ways

INFLUENCES ON PERCEPTION Culture: Standpoint Theory (group affiliations impact perception) Media: defines what is acceptable; media literacy Fields of Experience: perceptual baggage Language: connotative meanings

SELF AND COMMUNICATION Self-concept: general perception of who we are; past, present and future selves Possible selves: visions of what we may become Self-esteem: an assessment of individual worth Self-image: mental picture of one’s self

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM How we internalize and use social values to guide how we see ourselves and others; how we interact with others Observe and internalize others’ reactions to us Cooley’s looking-glass self: self arises from interpersonal interactions and perceptions of others How we appear to others How appearance is judged Developing a sense of self through judgment of others

GEORGE HERBERT MEAD Not born with a self We develop self through perceptions of IMPORTANT relationships with significant others Generalized other: viewpoint of the entire society “I” is the doer, the actor, the performer; in the moment “Me” is the critic and judge; reflects on the actions of the “I”

RELATIONAL SELF Process of constantly becoming who you are as a result of relationships with others People behave differently when they are with different people (cultural, familial, social contexts) Communication helps each achieve a self that would otherwise not be realized Communication creates identity; responsibility to interact with others so they can achieve healthy self identity

HOW DOES THIS DRAWING REFLECT RELATIONAL SELF?