Exam 4: Interpersonal Perception

You liked most everything about your new roommate when you first met, but when you found out she smokes, that overshadowed all of her good qualities in your mind. What perception-making process are you displaying here?

Regarding the fundamental attribution error, which of the following statements is NOT true?

Most people probably wouldn't admit that they stereotype others, but research shows that stereotyping is a fairly common pattern of perception-making. As you have learned in this chapter, there is nothing inherently negative about stereotypes, so why do you suppose stereotyping is so distasteful to people? If you were teaching a workshop about stereotyping to a group of college students, what would you most want them to know about it?

When it comes to perception-making, it's always best to have the most information possible.

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

Compare and contrast the fundamental attribution error and the self-serving bias as common attribution errors.

How are interpretations different from facts?

Which of the following techniques can help in the perception-checking process?

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

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

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 statements is true with respect to the process of stereotyping?

Egocentrism is a normal stage of human development.

An explanation for why something occurred is called a(n):

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

The stages of perception happen in a very ordered and linear fashion.

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. What factors/features of those situations led you to make those decisions? Finally, discuss why the perception-checking process in general is important.

Idealizing a romantic partner at the beginning of a new relationship is a common example of the __________ bias.

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

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? Do relationship type or context factor into those decisions? Finally, suggest one way that someone could overcome each of those attribution errors.