Man3240 Exam 2 Study Guide
Chapter 5: Perception & Indvl. Decision Making
What is perception
Perception: a process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment. * The world as it is perceived is the world that is behaviorally important
Factors influencing perception
Person Perception: Making judgments about others * Person perception: the perceptions people form about each other
Attribution theory
Attribution theory: an attempt when individuals observe behavior to determine whether it is internally or externally caused * 3 factors of determination: distinctiveness, consensus, and consistency * Distinctiveness: whether an individual displays different behaviors in different situations * Consensus: if everyone who faces a similar situation responds in the same way * Consistency: does the person respond the same way over time * Internally: caused behaviors that are believed to be under personal control of the individual * Externally: caused behavior seen as resulting from outside causes; the person is seen as having been forced into the behavior by the situation
Fundamental attribution error: the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behaviors of others.
Self-serving bias: the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors while putting the blame for failures on external factors
Frequently used shortcuts in judging others
Selective perception: selectively interpreting what one sees on the basis of one’s interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
Halo effect: drawing a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic
Contrast effects: evaluation of a person’s characteristics that are affected by comparisons with other people recently encountered who rank higher or lower on the same
What is perception
Perception: a process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment. * The world as it is perceived is the world that is behaviorally important
Factors influencing perception
Person Perception: Making judgments about others * Person perception: the perceptions people form about each other
Attribution theory
Attribution theory: an attempt when individuals observe behavior to determine whether it is internally or externally caused * 3 factors of determination: distinctiveness, consensus, and consistency * Distinctiveness: whether an individual displays different behaviors in different situations * Consensus: if everyone who faces a similar situation responds in the same way * Consistency: does the person respond the same way over time * Internally: caused behaviors that are believed to be under personal control of the individual * Externally: caused behavior seen as resulting from outside causes; the person is seen as having been forced into the behavior by the situation
Fundamental attribution error: the tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behaviors of others.
Self-serving bias: the tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors while putting the blame for failures on external factors
Frequently used shortcuts in judging others
Selective perception: selectively interpreting what one sees on the basis of one’s interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
Halo effect: drawing a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic
Contrast effects: evaluation of a person’s characteristics that are affected by comparisons with other people recently encountered who rank higher or lower on the same