Chapter 3 - Perception & Attribution

Question 1

What is perception?

Answer 1

The process of interpreting the message of our senses to provide order and meaning to the environment.

Question 2

What are the 3 types of perceptions?

Answer 2

1- Perceiver
2- Target
3- The situation

Question 3

Define the perceiver

Answer 3

Past experiences lead to expectations.

Interests, values and needs can lead to focus on certain things

Question 4

Define the target

Answer 4

Ambiguous targets are more prone to interpret and disturb.

The perceiver tries to resolve ambiguities (fill in gaps).

Question 5

Define the situation

Answer 5

influences people by adding info about the target

Question 6

What is perceptual Defence?

Answer 6

Defends us against unpleasant emotions

*See what you want to see and hear what you want other.

Question 7

What is the model of Perceptual Process?

Answer 7

How we select cues in our interpretations which leads to opinions.

Question 8

What are the 3 aspects of the model of perceptual process?

Answer 8

1- Selectivity
2- Constancy
3- Consistancy

Question 9

What are the 6 Perception Biases?

Answer 9

1- Primary effect (rely on early cues and first impressions)
2- Recency effect (rely on last impressions)
3- Central traits (characteristics about you that I’m into)
4- Implicit Personality Theories (what we think our personality characteristic goes with) slow worker=not smart
5- Projection (attribute ones own thoughts n feelings to others)
6- Stereotyping (generalize people to a certain category)

Question 10

What is the Social Identity Theory?

Answer 10

People form perceptions of themselves based on their personal characteristics and membership in social categories.
ex: who are you? “I’m a student”.

We respond in terms of various social categories that we think we belong in

Question 11

What is Bruners Model of the Perceptual Process?

Answer 11

1) Unfamiliar Target - e.g new coworker LEADS TO
2) Openess to target - e.g. search for info LEAD TO
3) Familiar Cues Encountered - coworker graduated from harvard LEADS TO
4) Target Categorized - Good man/ good potentiao LEADS TO
5) Cue Selectivity - (Poor performance- ignored) LEADS TO
6) Categorization Streghtened - (still a good man vs potential)

Question 12

What is Attribution?

Answer 12

Process by which causes or motives are assigned to explain peoples behaviour.

Question 13

What are Dispositional Attributions?

Answer 13

Explanations for behaviour based on personality.

ex: laziness, friendly, greedy.

Question 14

What are Situational Attributions?

Answer 14

Explanations for behaviour based on environment.

Question 15

What are Consistency cues?

Answer 15

How often does the person engage in this behaviour?

Often (high) = Dispositional.

Question 16

What are Consensus Cues?

Answer 16

How many other people engage in this behaviour?

Not too many (low)= Dispositional.

Question 17

What are Distinctiveness Cues?

Answer 17

Does this person engage in this behaviour in many situations?
Yes (Low) = Dispositional.

Question 18

What are the Biases in Attributions?

Answer 18

1) Fundamental attribution error
2) Actor-Observer Effect
3) Self-serving Bias

Question 19

According to the Biases in Attributions, define Fundamental attribution error…

Answer 19

Great situational attributions, poor dispositional attributions.
Ex: Link poor grades to students not studying enough.

Question 20

According to the Biases in Attributions, define Actor Observer Effect…

Answer 20

Observers and actors view the causes for the actors behaviour differently.

Question 21

According to the Biases in Attributions, define Self-Serving Bias…

Answer 21

Take credit for successful outcomes and deny responsibility for failures.
ex: bad grades because exam was hard.

Question 22

What is the changing workplace?

Answer 22

Today organizations want to value diversity and exploit for competitive advantage.

Visible minorities double by 2017 in Canada.
Work age is 45-64 (48%).

Question 23

Define Valuing Diversity…

Answer 23

Improve recruiting, marketing, competitiveness in global markets, creativity and problem solving.

Question 24

What are Stereotypes in Workforce Diversity?

Answer 24

1) Stereotyping (generalize ppl in a social category)
2) Self-fulfilling Prophecy
3) Stereotype threat

Question 25

What is a Self-fulfiling Prophecy?

Answer 25

People who have an expectation about what another person is like, which influences how they act toward the person, which causes the person to act in ways consist w your belief.

Question 26

What is a stereotype threat?

Answer 26

When you are afraid that ppl will interpret their behaviour according to a stereotype and your anxiety lead you to act that way.

eg: woman are bad at math..

Question 27

What is Perceived Organizational Support (POS)?

Answer 27

Employees general belief that their organization values their contribution and cares about their well-being.

Question 28

What is the Signalling Theory?

Answer 28

Job applicant interpret their recruitment experiences as cues or signals about unknown characteristics of an organization and what it will be like.
** Their interview or job interview.. gives them an idea on if they’ll actually like the job**

Question 29

What is the Rater Error?

Answer 29

When subject performance is measured.

Question 30

What are the 5 Rater Errors?

Answer 30

1- Leniency (perceive job performance as good)
2- Harshness (ineffective)
3- Central tendency (middle-range performance categories)
4- Halo Effect
5- Similar-to-me effect (higher rates to similar ppl)

Question 31

Describe the HALO EFFECT in the Rater Errors…

Answer 31

It is when the observer (rater) allows the rating of an individual on one trait to fill in the ratings of other traits.