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Perception

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What Is Perception, and Why Is

It Important?

Peoples behavior isPeoples behavior is

based on theirbased on their

perception of whatperception of what

reality is, not onreality is, not on

reality itself.reality itself.

The world as it isThe world as it is

perceived is the worldperceived is the worldthat is behaviorallythat is behaviorally

important.important.

Perception

A process by whichindividuals organize andinterpret their sensory

impressions in order togive meaning to theirenvironment.

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Factors Influencing Perception:

1.) Perceiver

2.) Target

3.) Situation

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Factors That

Influence

Perception

E X H I B I T 51

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Person Perception: Making

Judgments About Others

Distinctiveness: shows different behaviors in different situations.

Consensus: response is the same as others to same situation.

Consistency: responds in the same way over time.

Attribution Theory

When individuals observebehavior, they attempt to

determine whether it isinternally or externallycaused.

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Attribution

TheoryE X H I B I T 52

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Errors and Biases in Attributions

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to underestimatethe influence of external factorsand overestimate the influence

of internal factors when makingjudgments about the behaviorof others.

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Errors and Biases in Attributions

(contd)Self-Serving Bias

The tendency for individualsto attribute their ownsuccesses to internal factors

while putting the blame forfailures on external factors.

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Frequently Used Shortcuts in

Judging OthersSelective Perception

People selectively interpret what they see on thebasis of their interests, background, experience,and attitudes.

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Frequently Used Shortcuts in

Judging OthersHalo Effect

Drawing a general impressionabout an individual on thebasis of a single characteristic

Contrast Effects

Evaluation of a persons characteristics that

are affected by comparisons with otherpeople recently encountered who rank higheror lower on the same characteristics.

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Frequently Used Shortcuts in

Judging OthersProjection

Attributing ones owncharacteristics to otherpeople.

Stereotyping

Judging someone on thebasis of ones perception ofthe group to which that

person belongs.

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Specific Applications in

Organizations Employment Interview

Perceptual biases of raters affect the accuracy of interviewers

judgments of applicants.

Performance Expectations

Self-fulfilling prophecy (pygmalion effect): The lower or higher

performance of employees reflects preconceived leader

expectations about employee capabilities.

Ethnic Profiling

A form of stereotyping in which a group of individuals is singled

outtypically on the basis of race or ethnicityfor intensive

inquiry, scrutinizing, or investigation.

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Specific Applications in

Organizations (contd) Performance Evaluations

Appraisals are often the subjective

(judgmental) perceptions of appraisers of

another employees job performance.

Employee Effort

Assessment of individual effort is a subjective

judgment subject to perceptual distortion andbias.