th
13
Inter-Act,
Edition
Chapter 2
Social
Perceptions
1
Social Perception
Also known as “cognitive
perception,” it is the set of
processes by which people perceive
themselves and others.
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Chapter 2 Objectives
Describe the perceptual process
 Explain how we form perceptions of others and why
we sometimes misperceive others
 Discuss how self-perceptions, self-concept, and selfesteem are formed and how we can make
improvements
 Identify the human factors that influence our
attitudes toward social media

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The Perception Process
The process of selectively attending
to, organizing, and interpreting the
information that we receive through
our senses
Attention & Selection
Organization
Interpretation
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Attention and Selection
Selection is determined by:
1.
Our needs
2.
Our interests
3.
Our expectations
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Organization
Simplicity: the brain reduces complex stimuli into
recognized forms
 Pattern recognition: the brain organizes information
into recognizable patterns or systems of interrelated
parts

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Interpretation
The process of assigning meaning to the
information that has been selected and
organized
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Dual Processing in Perception
Automatic processing
◦ Fast, subconscious
◦ Heuristics: rules of thumb for how something is to
be viewed based on experience
 Conscious processing
◦ Slow, deliberative approach
◦ We examine and think about the stimuli

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Perceiving Others
Uncertainty reduction theory: ways
individuals monitor their social
environments to know more about
themselves and others
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Impression Formation
Physical appearance: predictions based
on appearance
Implicit personality theory: inaccurate
perceptions based on the association of
physical or other characteristics with
personality traits
Assumed similarity: thinking that others
who share one characteristic with you
also share others
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Making Attributions
Attributions: reasons we give for our
own and others’ behavior
Situational attribution: attributing
behavior to an external situation, outside
of a person’s control
Dispositional attribution: attributing
behavior to someone’s internal
disposition or personality
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Person-Perception Biases
Person-Perception Biases – selective
perception, stereotyping, halo effects, forced
consistency, projection, and fundamental
attribution error
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Biases Include:


Selective Perception – inaccurately paying attention only to
what we expect to see or hear and ignoring what we don’t
expect
Stereotyping –
◦ Prejudice: stereotyping based on the characteristics of a
person’s group
◦ Discrimination: acting differently toward a person based on
prejudice
◦ Racism, Ethnocentrism, Heterosexism, Sexism, Ageism, Ableism: belief that the behaviors or characteristics of one group
are inherently superior to those of another
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Halo effects – thinking a person has a whole set of
related personality traits when only one trait has
actually been observed
Forced consistency – interpreting conflicting
different perceptions of another person so our
interpretation of what we see remains consistent
Projection – thinking that someone who is like us in
one respect will share other characteristics and
attitudes
Fundamental attribution error – ascribing others’
negative behavior to their dispositions while ascribing
our negative behavior to the situation
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Improving Social Perceptions

Question the accuracy of perceptions.

Seek more information.

Use conscious processing.

Realize that perceptions change.

Use perception checking.
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Self-Perception
Self-concept – your perception of
your competencies and personality traits
Self-esteem – your evaluation of your
perceived competence and personal
worthiness
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Cultural & Self-Perception
Independent self-perception: viewing
traits, abilities, and personality as internal
and universally applicable Interdependent
self-perception: viewing traits, abilities,
and personality as dependent upon the
situation
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Positive Self-Esteem
Perception of having a characteristic
+
Personal belief that the characteristic is of
positive value
=
Positive self-esteem
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Accuracy of Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
•Incongruence: gap between selfperception and reality
•Self-fulfilling prophecies: events that
happen as the result of being foretold,
expected, or talked about
•Filtering messages: paying attention
only to messages that reinforce our
current self-concept
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Self-Perception and Communication
Our self-perception affects
our communication by
influencing:
How we talk to/about
ourselves
How we talk to/about
others.
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Social Media: The Human Factor
Self-disclosure
 Social connection
 Convenience

◦ an opportunity and a challenge
Apprehension
 Miscommunication

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Self-Perception Online
Extra Credit:
Online communication
attitudes influence how
much you
communicate through
social media.
Go to your Facebook
page
 Reflect on the information
posted to your profile
 Assess your digital selfdisclosure and social
connection

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Homework:



List 10 words to describe yourself. Use a variety of
descriptors: roles, skills, physical attributes, personality
characteristics, etc. Have a family member, close friend,
and acquaintance each list 10 words to describe you.
Analyze the differences/similarities.
Then describe the 5 most significant situations, events,
or experiences that have shaped your current selfconcept. Explain.
Review your Assignment Rubric!
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