TOPIC 2.

1
PERCEPTION
WHAT KNOWLEDGE
WILL WE LEARN?
1. Perception is Important

2. Perception defined

3. Perception model
WHAT SKILLS WILL WE LEARN?

HOW TO SHARPING YOUR HOW TO CONNECT THE

PERFECTION? PERCEPTION AND TECHNOLOGY?
 Perception is Important

• Differences in perception are widespread

• Not all differences are of equal importance

• Not everyone’s perceptions have equal status

• What does perception have to do with communication?

You communicate your perceptions through language

You use your perceptual filters to interpret others’ messages

Your communication shapes your perceptions of others

 • Perception: the way in which
an individual gives meaning to
an object, messages or event
Perception is a process
Perception Defined
A Perception Model

Read BC Topic 2.1 – Cheesebro - Page 34-36

 A Perception Model

• Prior Knowledge - Knowledge base you’ve developed over

years of experience and education
• Prior Experiences - Use to help you make sense of your
world
• Psychological state – Identity , personality traits, values and
worldviews, external traits, self-concept, physical variables
 Who would you trust?

Person A
Ask someone that which
person they would pick. Person B
Take a picture of them.
Who would you trust?

PERSON A - Ted Bundy: PERSON B - Paul Teutul:

• Attended law school • Did not attend university
• Worked in government • CEO of Orange County
• Famous serial Killer Choppers
• Killed between 35 – 100 • Value is estimated at $15
women million
 • Halo Effect, Attribution Error and Projection

Halo effect: occurs when you make

assumptions based upon limited information
• Positive or negative

Attribution error: attempt to attribute causes

A Perception of events to either personalities or external
Model situations

Projection: tendency to see your own faults

(or strengths) in others and point out those
traits
How to Sharpening Your Perceptions

• Facts/opinion confusion
Statements of fact:
• Are based on observable sensory data

• Are only about the past or present, never the future

• Are objective and free from interpretations, conclusions or assumptions about

what has been observed
How to Sharpening Your Perceptions (cont.)

Statements of opinion:
• Go beyond what has been observed

• Are about the past, present or future

• Include interpretations, conclusions or assumptions about what has been observed and are
subjective

State your opinions by using an “I” message

• “I think,” “To me,” “From my point of view”
How to Sharpening Your Perceptions (cont.)

• Checking Perceptions
Responses to someone’s verbal/nonverbal communication

They share an impression of the person’s message

Open-minded, non-evaluative statements that invite a response

Help to verify assumptions or opinions

Provide a way to confirm what you are thinking

How to Sharpening Your Perceptions (cont.)

• Learning conversations
Process for learning about the perceptions of others

Debates: attempt to win, convince the other person you are right

Dialogue: goal is to understand, not win and requires a curiosity of others

How to Sharpening Your
Perceptions (cont.)

Content messages: describe facts about what

happen, often include assumptions

Feeling messages: how someone feels, most

likely expressed in body language

Identity messages: how people see themselves

and how they are affected
 How to connect the Perception
and Technology?

• New technology allows people to change and shape

reality

• Be critical of what you see and hear

• Call for media literacy awareness

 Media constructs messages to broadcast
 Messages use creative language with specific rules
 Messages are understood differently by different people
 Decision-makers have their own points of view
 Goal is usually more money and/or power
Read BC Topic 2.1 – Cheesebro - Page 45-47