Review L7 (Nov. 23)
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
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Amygdala is linked to the ability to accurately assess danger in
a situation.
Left hemisphere of the brain is associated with positive
emotions (e.g., happiness).
Right hemisphere is associated with negative emotions (e.g.,
sadness, anxiety).
Quiz 7
Three components of personality:

id, ego, superego
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Self Actualization
Esteem Needs
Belongingness Needs
Safety Needs
Physiological Needs
Theories of Personality:


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Psychoanalytic
Behaviorist
Humanist
Trait
Chapter 5:
The Role of Perception in
Human Relations
What Is Perception?
 The word perception comes from the Latin capere,
meaning "to take," the prefix per meaning "completely.”
 So…what do you think perception means in this course?
Is Reality Subjective?

Different people have different perceptions of the
truth in any given situation.
Filters Are for More Than
Coffee!
 Interpretations of events and situations are filtered
through personal belief situations, interests, values,
expectations, and experiences.
How Do Humans Perceive?

Humans have an innate need for order.

Human brains have evolved to aid in this endeavor.

In addition to quick processing, humans also make
perceptual errors.
How Does This Affect Human
Relations?
 These errors contribute to judgments and conclusions
drawn about people and events.
 In turn, this affects our relationships with others.
Cognitive Biases

See Table 5.1 (Cognitive Biases That May Lead to
Misperceptions) (p. 151) for a list of perceptual
errors that are outgrowths of the need to
understand the world and its inhabitants.
First Impressions Matter!
 First impressions are typically the strongest.
This may be related to the human need to
understand things.
 First impressions are very difficult to overcome.
 Can you think of an example from your own
life?
What Is the Primacy Effect?
THE PRIMACY EFFECT (p. 151) occurs when people pay
more attention to initial information they receive
about a person or situation than they do to later
information.
 See Asch’s (1946) seminal list of characteristics study
on p. 151.
A Bit About Bias

FALSE CONSENSUS BIAS (p. 152) is our mistaken
assumption that others see things the same way we do.

FALSE UNIQUENESS BIAS (p. 153) occurs when we are
considering our talents, abilities, or positive qualities, we tend
to see ourselves as more unique than we actually are. This is
the exception to the false consensus bias.
What is Confirmation Bias?
THE CONFIRMATION BIAS (p. 153) occurs when our
tendency to seek out and pay attention to information
that supports our preexisting notions, and also to
ignore or discount contradictory information.

It is a perceptual error made in an attempt to
determine the “right answer” to a problem or
situation.
What is the Fundamental
Attribution Error?


THE FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR (p.
155) is our human tendency to assume that other
people’s behavior is due to something about their
personality, while at the same time failing to
consider possible situational influence.
This mistake occurs because of focus of attention.
How Do Internal and External
Attributions Differ?

INTERNAL ATTRIBUTION (p. 156) occurs when
we attribute a person’s behavior to something about
the person, his character, or his personality.

EXTERNAL ATTRIBUTION (p. 156) occurs when
we attribute behavior to an external or situational
factor.
Overcoming the Fundamental
Attribution Error


The fundamental
attribution error is a threat
to good relations with
others.
Kelley (1974) developed a
three-question formula to
determine the correctness
of an attribution.

See Figure 5.2 on page 158
(Avoiding the Fundamental
Attribution Error).
Is This Behavior Consistent?
CONSISTENCY (p. 157) is related to whether a particular
behavior typically occurs in that situation.

How can you tell when your behavior is
consistent?
Is This Behavior Distinctive?
DISTINCTIVENESS (p. 157) is related to whether a
particular behavior typically occurs in other
situations.

How can you tell?
Do Others Exhibit This
Behavior in the Same
Situations?
CONSENSUS (p. 158) is related to whether other people
typically exhibit this behavior in this situation.
Fundamental Attribution Error

See Activity 5.1 (Overcoming the Fundamental
Attribution Error) (pp. 159, 175-176) to test an
understanding of personal fundamental
attribution error.

What did you discover about this type of error?
What Physiological Factors
Influence Perception?
 Several physiological factors (biological factors)
influence our perception of events:
 physical senses
 physical state
 physical attributes
What About Physical Senses?

Perceptual differences in senses can contribute to
misunderstandings in relationships.
What About Physical State?

Physical state at any given time can influence the
way a person perceives and is perceived by others.
What Are Physical Attributes?

Physical appearance influences the way people are
perceived by others.

Research suggests people respond more favorably to
physically attractive others.

Do you agree? Can you think of an example to
substantiate this?
When Physiology Interferes
with Perception

See Activity 5.2 (When Physiology Interferes With
Perception) (pp. 163, 176-178) to explore the ways in
which biological factors have played a role in
personal and other perceptions.
Beauty and Body Image

Special Topic/ Beauty and Body Image: A Cultural
Obsession (See p. 162-163).




How is this related to the current trend toward
unhealthy (if not dangerous) thinness in young
women in the United States and Hong Kong?
Whiten,
Get fit (slim),
figure

Is this unique to the HK/U.S.?
Cultural Influences on Perception
 Personal space
 Eye contact
 Talking rule
 Assignment 8