How Does Perception Influence Our Interpersonal Communication?

How Does Perception Influence Our Interpersonal Communication?

Prepare

In this lesson, you will explain instances of effective and ineffective communication in terms of the principles of self-concept and perception.

Review Wood, Chapter 3 (pp. 79–84).

Wood presents seven Guidelines for Improving Perception and Communication:

  1. Recognize that all perceptions are partial and subjective: They are partial because you cannot perceive everything and subjective because you are influenced by many factors. Avoid thinking your perceptions are the only valid ones.
  2. Avoid mind reading: When you assume you understand what another thinks, feels, or perceives, you may be misinterpreting the person. Allow people to speak for themselves.
  3. Check perceptions with others: Because perceptions are partial and subjective, and because mind reading is ineffective, you need to compare your perceptions with others. Done in a non-accusatory way, this can minimize defensiveness and help you arrive at a mutual understanding.
  4. Distinguish between facts and inferences: Facts are objective statements based on observation. Inferences involve interpretation that goes beyond the facts. Use more tentative words like “seems” instead of “is” to differentiate an inference from a fact.
  5. Guard against the self-serving bias: Monitor yourself to see whether you unjustifiably attribute your accomplishments to your own efforts or attribute your failures or adverse behaviors to factors beyond your control.
  6. Guard against the fundamental attribution error: Monitor yourself to see whether you assume another’s unwanted behavior is due to internal rather than external factors. Ask yourself, “What factors in the person’s situation might lead to this behavior?”
  7. Monitor labels: Be sensitive to how others interpret labels and choose your words accordingly.

Explain how self-concept and perception impact interpersonal communication.

Watch the video, College Success http://wowzahttp.cengage.com/media-asset/kaplan_wood_video/video.html?asset=wood_ch03&ext=mp4&h=480&w=640 and answer the following questions in a separate Word document. Responses are intended to be in a Q&A format (as opposed to an essay-style format) and the total Assignment should be 500–600 words, incorporating relevant course concepts and terms from the text and citing in APA format.

  1. Describe Jim’s self-concept.
  2. Explain, using examples from the video and course concepts, how Jim’s self-concept impacted his interaction with his father. Was it positive or negative?
  3. Explain, using examples from the video and course concepts, how the father’s self-concept impacted his interaction with Jim. Was it positive or negative?
  4. Apply the process of perception, starting on p. 64 to explain the interaction between Jim and his father.
  5. Offer two tips for Jim and two tips for his father, using the guidelines for improving perception and communication (starting on p.79) and explain how these tips could be applied in an effective way.