Slide3, Perception and Perceptual Devices for Students
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© Copyright 2012 Session 3: Perception & Perceptual Devices BMGT 364
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Transcript of Slide3, Perception and Perceptual Devices for Students
© Copyright 2012
Session 3: Perception & Perceptual Devices
BMGT 364
© Copyright 2012
AgendaPerception exerciseWhat is perception?Perceptual devices and their
functionsTwo Men, Three Women on a Raft
caseStereotypes & their consequences
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Class ExerciseA well-liked college professor had just completed making up the final examinations and had turned off the lights in the office. Just then a tall, dark, broad figure appeared and demanded the examination. The professor opened the drawer. Everything in the drawer was picked up and the individual ran down the corridor. The dean was notified immediately.
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Please indicate whether each of the following statements is true, false, or impossible to determine (?)…
1.A tall figure demanded the examination.
2.The examination was picked up by someone.
3.A tall figure appeared before the lights in the office were turned off.
4.The man who opened the drawer was the professor.
5.The professor ran down the corridor.
6.During the same night, the dean was informed about the event.
The Statements
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Human Perception: What is It?
Perception is…
“a process by which individuals organize their sensory inputs in order to give meaning to their environments” Social Perception: process of
interpreting information about another person. Depends on: Characteristics of perceiver Characteristics of target Characteristics of situation
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Perceptual DevicesSelective Perception: tendency to infer information which supports our viewpoints
can
On first sight, are there any differences between these pictures?
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Perceptual Devices
First-Impression Error (Primacy Effect): using limited information obtained in first encounter to infer what a person is really like
Schema & Scripts:categorizations and descriptions of thecharacteristic featuresof people, situations, etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDOz0QnvDKs
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Perceptual Devices
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (Pygmalion Effect): provoking the response we expect in other people
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Perceptual Devices
Projection (False Consensus Effect): assuming that our beliefs and values are commonly held and normative; overestimation of commonality.
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Perceptual Devices
Halo Effect: drawing a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic Can be either
positive or negative
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Perceptual Devices
Contrast Effect: your evaluation of people is affected by comparisons with other recently encountered people
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Perceptual Devices
Attributions: explaining causes of behavior Self-serving bias: if
failure, situation responsible; if success, self responsible
Differences between achievement & failure oriented individuals…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhmKxa_FMkU
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Perceptual DevicesMental Models:
“Implicit generalizations, simplifications, or theories about the world” (people, business environment, customers, organizations)Powerful in influencing
how we see, decide, act, and thus conduct our behavior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h9HYS19H8E&feature=related
Mental models can become problematic when: Outdated: no longer
match reality
Left unexamined: cannot be openly examined
Widely and/or strongly held: cannot examine alternative models
Senge, P. (1992). Mental models. Planning Review, 20, 4-10;44.
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Truth about Perception:Good News
Our environment is too complex for us to handle as it is
Perceptual devices help us process information efficiently and generate responses promptly
They enable and guide our judgment, decisions, and actions
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Our perceptions often fail to match reality
Many decision failures in organizations simply come from the mismatch between decision makers’ perceived reality and actual reality
Truth about Perception: Bad News
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Case Discussion:
Two Women, Three Men on a Raft
What is the story in this case about?
Why do you think the raft turned over?
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Case Discussion Cont’d
Now let’s look at it from perceptual theory perspective:
What kind of perceptions (stereotypes) did people in the raft have in mind?
How did these perceptions affect their behaviors? Is it obvious and explicit, or subtle and implicit?
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Stereotypes
Generalizations about a group of people Improve efficiency
of thinking Increase in
strength when shared with and validated by others
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGAkgDXVanA
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Discovering Stereotypes
What have you heard about: Italian Americans? White Male? African American? Hispanics/Latinos? Older People? Polish Women?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxqwXNfYmOQ
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Discovering Stereotypes
How did you feel about the generalizations about the group you personally identified with?
What are your observations? Are they positive or negative? Do you agree?
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Stereotypes: The Bad…Can result in self-
fulfilling prophecy – we become the stereotype
Or can lead to a stereotype threat – we put effort into acting opposite the stereotype…
What could these two responses mean for today’s organizations?
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Implications for OB
People hold implicit generalizations about other people in organizations, which in many cases are untrue, exaggerated, and mostly negative.
By doing this, intentionally or unintentionally, they exclude other people, as well as precious possibilities and resources within them.
