Exam 4: Interpersonal Perception

Many people believe strongly in the notion that "seeing is believing." However, research has shown that perceptual sets can cause people to "see" things that aren't really there, or not to see things that are. Why do you think people have so much confidence that what they see reflects reality? Is it simply because they are ignorant of the research, or do you think most people would continue to think that "seeing is believing" even if they were aware of perceptual sets? Defend your answer with reasoned arguments.

Physiology exerts several effects on interpersonal perception.

The stages of perception happen in an orderly, linear fashion.

How are interpretations different from facts?

Which of the following is NOT one of the influences on perceptual accuracy addressed in your textbook?

Define the primacy and recency effects and explain how they work together to influence perceptions.

Samantha was a fantastic softball player, but she rarely took credit for her success. Every time a reporter from the school paper would ask her for a quote, Samantha would say, "I just got lucky today," or, "Their pitcher just gave me something I could hit." Which of the following likely factors into Samantha's personality?

Explain the similarities and differences between facts and interpretations, using concrete examples.

Which of the following statements is true with respect to perceptual accuracy?

What does the word prejudice literally mean? How are prejudices formed? Do you agree with the claim that prejudices are often the result of a misperception? Why or why not? How have you seen or experienced prejudice in your lifetime? What can be done to counteract or discourage people from engaging in the process of forming prejudices?

Which of the following sequences accurately depicts the process of stereotype formation?

Which of the following statements is true with respect to the process of stereotyping?

Describe in detail the direct and indirect perception-checking processes. Next, think of a unique situation in which it would be appropriate to engage in direct perception-checking but not indirect perception-checking. Also think about a situation in which indirect perception-checking is a preferable option. Which factors/features of those situations led you to make those decisions? Finally, discuss why the perception-checking process in general is important.

When competent communicators discover that their perceptions are inaccurate, they will respond by

Egocentrism is a normal stage of human development.

Your senses are unable to attend to every stimulus in the environment at the same time.

Identify and describe the three types of attribution errors discussed in your textbook. Which do you think is most common? Why? Which do you think is potentially the most damaging to relationships? Why? How do relationship type or context factor into those decisions? Finally, suggest one way that someone could overcome each of those attribution errors.

Forming an accurate snap-judgment of someone else illustrates which of the following truisms of forming attributions?

Identify and briefly define each of the three stages of the perception-making process.

If an attribution is internal then it must also be controllable.