Person perception Flashcards
person perception
the different mental processes used to understand and form impressions of other people
why are impressions subject to faliabiliity and bias
because they are determined by our existing attitudes
what are the two ways person perception can be provided
directly or indirectly
direct person perception
when information is provided from the person we are judging 9primary data), usually through easily accessible perceptual information
examples of easily accessible perceptual information in person perception
body language, clothingg, facial cues
indirect person perception
through hearing about the person we are judging from another person or source (secondary data)
first impressions
type of pperson perception that is usally based on very little information and are made in less than a second
attribution
when an evaluation is made about the causes of bahaviour and the process of making this evalution
two types of attributions
internal/ personal and external/situational
internal/personal attributions
when we juudge behaviour as being caused by something personal within an individual
examples of what internal/personal attriibutions determine as a cause for behaviour
psychological state, personality, motivation, ability, etc
external/situational attributions
when we determine the cause of a bahviour as resulting from situational factors occuring outside the individual
examples of situational factors in attributions
the environnbment a person is in when they produce a behaviour or events that the individual has experienced beyond their control
halo effect
a cognitive bias in which one good quality of a person might cause us to believe all of their other qualities and vise versa with a bad quality, a type of person perception
words to remeber steps of forming attribuutions
observation, recognition and attributing
steps of forming an attribution
- observation of the behaviour 2. recognition and concious acknowledgement of the behaviour 3. attributong the cause of the behaviour
fundamental attribution error
our ttendency to explain others behhaviour ion terms of internal factors while ignoring possible external factors, explained by the justworld belief
just world hypothesis
the belief that the world is just a place where people generally get what they deserve and deserve what they get
how is the just world hypothesis an explanation of the fundamental attribution error
because when something bad happens to someone, we tend to believe the victim must have doone something tooo deserve their fate rather than believe situational factors were responsible for it
actor-observer bias
our tendency to attribute our own behaviour to external or situational factors, yet attribute others behaviour to internal factorrs
self-serving bias
when judging ourselves we tend to take the credit for our sucess (internal factors) and deny responsibility for failure (blame on external factors)
why is the self-serving bias beneficial
it protects self-esteem and self-image
what are the two ways we percieve our own behaviour
actor observer bias and self-serving bias
what are the two wats we percieve others behaviour as a cognitive bias
fundamental attriibution error and actor observer bias
internal attribution leads to
growth and improvement
external attribution leads to
not adjusting behaviour/noot imroving
attribution style
the tendencies and repeated patterns in the way someone makes attributions
example of attribution style
pessimitic attribution style - a person who reguraly attributees behaviour to negative causes
attitudes
an evaluaion of a person, object, event or idea
how can attiitudees be described
can be positive, negative or neutral and will be on a contium or range of sttrength
what are the three criteria for attitudes
- attitude must be an evalution of something 2. must be settled and stable 3. ,mmust be learnt through experience
if the criteris of an attitude in not met, then what is the thought
likely a judgement
a settled and stable attitude means
they are constantly changing and are relatively permanent
what are the two ways that an attitude can be learnt through experuenece
through personal experience or vicariously
how can the characteristics of attutudes be described
throygh the tri-componentttt
tri-component of attitudes
proposes that an attitude must have all through affective, bahvioural and cognitive componenets present
affective component
our automatic emotional and intuitive feelings toward something when presented with it
behavioural component
our outward and obsrvable actions that reflect our point of view
cognitive component
our emotion free and objective thoughts and beliefs towards something
stereotyping
a widely held belief and generalisation about a group, and the belief that all mebers in theat group qill share characteristics despite their individuality
why is stereotyping helpful
allows us to percieve otthers and make sense of the social world through a mental shortcut, can keep us safe by judging is someone is a potential threat, allow us to act socially appropraiate and makes person perceptoion more efficient
what are the problems with stereotyping
oversimplified and innaccurate, usually negative rather than positive, offensive, ignoring individuality, fixed and resistant, more inclined to pay attentionn to information consistent with stereotype, can lead to social stigma
social stigma
negative labels and attitudes associated with disapproval or rejection by others who are not labbeled in that way
self stiggma
feelings of shame, disgrace and lower self -esteem as a result of stereotypiing
examples of negattive stereotypes towards ATSIP
they are violet, live in the outback and recieve too much from welfare
