1. Perception
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

2. Factors Influencing Perception Perceptual Errors
Perception Defined
Factors Influencing Perception
Perceptual Errors
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

3. What is Perception A multistage process that takes place in the BRAIN.
It includes
Selection
Processing
Organization
Integration
of Information received from the SENSES
Knowledge
Needs
Beliefs
Values
Assumptions
Attitudes.
Selective
Organization
Interpretation
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

4. Perception What Is Perception? Why Is It Important?
The process by which individuals organize and interpret their impressions in order to give meaning to their environment.
Why Is It Important?
Because people’s behaviour is based on their perception of what reality is, not on reality itself.
The world as it is perceived is the world that is behaviourally important.
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

5. Purpose of Perception Process
Simplify information for processing
2. Decrease distress/discomfort from particular stimuli.
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

6. What influences perception?
Cognitive functions
Personality
Past experiences
Education
Gender, age, ethnicity, culture
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

7. Senses Sight - Visual Hearing - Auditory Smell - Olfactory Taste
Touch - Tactile
Kinesthetic
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

8. Factors that Influence Perception
The Perceiver
The Target
The Situation
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

9. Factors That Influence Perception
5-1
E X H I B I T
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

10. The Perceptual Process Environmental Stimuli Perceptual Organization
Smelling
Tasting
Feeling
Hearing
Seeing
Individual’s
Values
and Beliefs
Selective Attention
Perceptual Organization
Emotions and Behavior
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada
From “Self Awareness” by McShane &
Von Glinow, Organizational Behavior

11. What’s the difference? Sensation
Interaction between the body-environment
the reception of physical stimulation.
Use of specialized cells.
Perception
our interpretation
active decoding process
influenced by
experience
thoughts
beliefs...
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

12. Perception and human cognition
Week 2
Week 1
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

13. What is Risk Perception?
Process of determining likelihood and severity of injury
Determined by availability of risk in memory
Behavior is determined by perceived rather than actual risk
Risk Tolerance – Is the subjective level of acceptable risk
Hazard – Is a condition or set of circumstances that has the potential of causing harm or contributing to injury, illness, or property damage
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

14. Factors Influencing Risk Perception
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

15. Factors Influencing Risk Perception
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

16. Perceptual Errors Attribution Theory Selective Perception Halo Effect
Contrast Effects
Projection
Stereotyping
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

17. Attribution Theory
When individuals observe behaviour, they attempt to determine whether it is internally or externally caused.
Distinctiveness
Does the individual act the same way in other situations?
Consensus
Does the individual act the same as others in same situation?
Consistency
Does the individual act the same way over time?
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

18. Attribution Theory Fundamental Attribution Error Self-Serving Bias
The tendency to underestimate external factors and overestimate internal factors when making judgments about others’ behaviour.
Self-Serving Bias
The tendency to attribute one’s successes to internal factors while putting the blame for failures on external factors.
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

19. Attribution Theory Observation Interpretation Attribution of cause
External
High
(Seldom) Lo w
(Frequently)
Internal r na l
Individual
behaviour
Distinctiveness
(How often does the
person do this in
other situations?)
Consensus
(How often do other
people do this in
similar situations?)
Consistency
(How often did the
the
past?)
(Frequently)
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

20. Perceptual Errors Selective Perception Halo Effect Contrast Effects
People selectively interpret what they see based on their interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
Halo Effect
Drawing a general impression about an individual based on a single characteristic.
Contrast Effects
A person’s evaluation is affected by comparisons with other individuals recently encountered.
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada

21. Perceptual Errors Projection Stereotyping Prejudice
Attributing one’s own characteristics to other people.
Stereotyping
Judging someone on the basis of your perception of the group to which that person belongs.
Prejudice
An unfounded dislike of a person or group based on their belonging to a particular stereotyped group.
Chapter 2, Nancy Langton and Stephen P. Robbins, Fundamentals of Organizational Behaviour, Third Canadian Edition
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada