1. University of Northern IA
Presentation prepared by:
Marilyn Shaw
University of Northern IA
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2. Chapter 2 Connecting Perceptions and Communication
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3. This Chapter Will Help You:
Make the connection between perception and your communication competence.
Understand the three stages of perception and how they affect your communication.
Identify seven reasons why different people may perceive the same situation in different ways.
Accurately interpret and check your perceptions to improve your communication competence.
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4. Perception and Communication
Perceptions are based on our experiences
Perception gives meaning to our communication
Perception influences how we communicate with others
Perception is a complex phenomenon
Photo from Ch 2, page 38
Michael Zito/ZUMA Press/Newscom
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

5. The Perception Process
Selection
Sorting one stimulus from another
Selective exposure
Selective attention
Selective retention
Organization
Sorting, organizing, categorizing
Closure
Proximity
Similarity
Interpretation
Based on past experience
Based on new situations
Based on opinions of others
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6. Closure: Cow or Incomplete Drawing?
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7. Discuss and Reflect
Think about a time when you were in a heated argument with someone who you cared a great deal about. During the heat of the argument, you said something that hurt them and you wished you hadn’t. You said you “didn’t mean it or I take it back.”
Can we ever take back something we said?
Why or why not?
What caused the other person to perceive the statements in the way that they did?
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8. Perceptual Differences
Perceptual Set and Stereotyping
Attribution Error*
Complex process through which we attempt to understand the reasons behind others’ behaviors.
Physical Characteristics
(our weight,height/strength and ability to use our 5 senses can influence what we perceive (sighted person) *.
Cultural Background
Ethnocentrism (learned belief that our culture is superior to all others)
Cultural myopia-we have a short-sighted view of other cultures
Cultural relativism-people who strive to understand cultural differencse rather than judge them.
Gender-socially constructed concept related to learned masculine and feminine behaviors
Media-need look no farther than how NBC portrays candidates vs. Fox Channel
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9. Improving Perception Competencies and Perception Checking
Become an Active Perceiver
Recognize That Each Person’s Frame of Mind Is Unique
Distinguish Facts from Inferences
Become Aware of the Role of Perception in Communication
Keep an Open Mind
Perception Checking: Being a Competent Communicator
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10. Guidelines for Competent Communicators
Separate facts from assumptions
Perceptions, especially first impressions, are not always accurate
Recognize your personal biases
People from different cultural backgrounds do not always attach the same meaning to events
Don’t be afraid to verify your perceptions
Admit misperceptions and change if needed
Copyright © 2014, 2011, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

11. Definitions
Perception-involves selecting, organizing and interpreting information to give meaning to our communication.
Why does it matter that 2 people’s perceptions differ?
Answer: individual who see things differently might require more understanding, negotiation/persusasion and tolerance of those differences

12. Perception Process-3 parts
Selection—sorting one stimulus from another
-happens when we mentally sort one thing from another based on our own previ0us experiences
What is a stimulus? Something that incites or quickens action, feeling, or thought
THREE TYPES OF SELECTION—
selective exposure—deliberately choosing to avoid or focus on certain stimuli
selective attention-focusing on certain stimuli while ignoring or dowplaying other stimuli
selective retention-process of storing and recalling information

13. Definitions
Interpretation-assigning of meaning to stimuli (use our own experiences as well as those of others to help interpret the meaning of stimuli).
This means to assess meaning (why and how of stimulus )
IN SUMMARY, competent communicators verify their perceptions before drawing conclusions