Perception Flashcards
What are attributions?
Attributions are explanations we use to understand each other’s behaviour.
What are internal attributions?
Behaviour is caused by the person
What are external attributions?
Behaviour is caused by something else
How would someone explain good behaviour for a partner bringing a box of chocolates?
INTERNAL = He always knows just what to get me – he’s so thoughtful.
EXTERNAL = He got them from someone at work today + re-gifting them to me.
ow would someone explain good behaviour for snapping at you for being 5 mins late?
INTERNAL = He’s such an impatient + irritable person.
EXTERNAL = He must’ve had a really hard day at work.
How does satisfaction influence attribution of partner’s bhvr?
Weiss (1980); Walsh & Neff (2020) = satisfaction influences attribution of partners’ behaviour
Satisfied people = internal attributions for partner’s good bhvr + external for partner’s bad bhvr
Unsatisfied people = external attributions for partner’s good bhvr + internal for partner’s bad bhvr
How does attribution affect satisfaction?
Bradbury & Fincham (1990); Osterhout et al. (2011) = the attributions we make to explain partner’s bhvr affect satisfaction
Satisfied people = become happier bc relationship enhancing
Unsatisfied people = ↑ unhappy bc relationship is distress maintaining (maintaining the dissatisfaction of the relationship)
What are positive illusions?
Murray & Holmes (1999) = when we emphasise a partner’s pos. qualities + minimise faults
Because of pos. illusions, how do people judge themselves compared to their partners?
Gignac & Zajenkowski (2019) = judge partners pos. than they judge themselves
What does Murray et al. (1999) describe as benefits of pos. illusions?
It is related to ↑ relationship satis. + stability
Give the benefit of the doubt minimises conflict.
Partner = feel good + ↑ secure
What does Murray & Holmes (1999) describe as benefits of pos. illusions?
Partner-fulfilling prophecy = could be ‘lived up’ to their idealised image of them
How are pos. illusions limited in their usefulness?
Neff & Karney (2005) = the extent to which pos. illusions are beneficial
Depends on how unrealistic illusions are.
Minor illusions = smooth social interactions
Major illusions minimise problems.
Partner’s = pressure to ‘live up to ideals’
What is self-verification?
This is when a person wants other people to see them as how they think of themselves
When are positive illusions better than self-verifications?
Fletcher (2015) = when the relationship is new, dating/ newlyweds
When are pos. illusions worse than self-verifications?
Swann et al. (1992) = LTR bc they feel understood/ validated
When related to aspects of self-concept that is very important
What are beliefs?
Ideas/ theories about what the world is like
What are beliefs?
Ideas/ theories about what the world is like. This is an individual difference in how they see others.
What are the two beliefs linked to relationships?
Knee & Petty (2013): Types of relationships beliefs
o Destiny beliefs
o Growth beliefs
What are destiny beliefs?
People are compatible or not
What are growth beliefs?
Relationship challenges can be overcome
What are the relationship outcomes of destiny beliefs?
Initially happier w/ their relationships BUT when faced w/ conflict = satis. ↓
Especially sensitive to signs relationships ≠ meant to be
Disengages from relationship when there’s a problem.
What are the relationship outcomes of growth beliefs?
People = constructive, optimistic + committed when facing conflicts
Fewer one-night stands, dating a partner for a longer period of time.
Tries to maintain the relationship when there’s a problem = ↑ satisfaction overall bc they help couples work through challenges
How does self-disclosure and perception work together?
self-disclosure = generates closeness
perceptions, attributions, beliefs = shape interactions + relationships
How does evidence show that we can’t narrow interpersonal gaps in communication?
Wright & Roloff (2015) = we expect people to read our minds
We don’t realise how bad at reading other people’s minds = Swann & Gil (1997) found studies on romantic partners + college showed as relationships developed, the accuracy in reading each other didn’t increase, but they got more (over)confident. THEY THINK THEY KNOW THEM BETTER.
More communication is needed.
What factors did Epley (2008) identify hindering interpersonal gaps being narrowed?
Identified several challenges that limited our ability to perceive accurately.
A tool people use + useful, but may cause inaccuracies = egocentric simulations (not all people are us)
What are egocentric simulations?
How we interpret others = how we would feel, think, behave, motivate, react if we were in certain situations.
What did Epley (2008) propose to stop the factors hindering interpersonal gaps being narrowed?
Time, effort + perspective taking = putting ourselves in their shows (but top-down biases may still influence perceptions e.g stereotypes)
Actively encode info = trying to gather more info before jumping to conclusions
Need to see oneself at ↑ level of abstraction = see ourselves as we see others
