This document discusses perception and the factors that influence it. It describes perception as the process of assigning meaning to information from our senses and the world around us. Perception occurs in three steps: sensory input, selective attention, and personal interpretation. Many factors shape our unique perceptions, including values, beliefs, culture, biases, and expectations. The document emphasizes that increasing self-awareness of how we perceive and checking our perceptions against others can lead to more accurate understanding.

2. Perception
• The process you use to
assign meaning to data
about yourself or the
world around you.
• Much of your self-talk is
based on your
perceptions.

3. Personal
Since each person is unique, his or her perceptions
are highly personal and individualized.

4. Three Steps of Perception
1. Sensory
 An individual’s ability to detect
stimuli in the immediate
environment.
(Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching)
2. Selective
 The process a person uses to
eliminate some of the stimuli
that have been sensed and to
retain others for further
processing.
3. Personal
 Organizing and sorting the data
to which to pay attention.

5. Personal Perception:
Making Judgments
About Others

6. Factors that Influence Perception
Values
Beliefs
Culture
Bias
Prejudice
Attitudes
Expectations
Knowledge
Communication skills

7. Your Perception is Unique
Do you and your classmates have the same perception
of the following images?

8. Rabbit or Bird?

10. Stare at the middle of the circle. What color is the spinning dot?

12. Increasing Accuracy in Perception
 Perceive critically: For example, recognize your role
in perception, avoid early conclusions, and avoid
mind reading.
Check your perceptions; describe what you see or
hear and ask for confirmation.
Be culturally sensitive; recognize the differences
between you and others and also the differences
among people from another culture.

13. Stereotypes
A fixed impression about a group, may influence your
perceptions of individual members; you may see
individuals only as members of the group instead of
as unique individuals.

14. Stereotypes
Who is the convicted felon?

15. Perspective
Taking the perspective of the other person and
looking at the world through this perspective, this
point of view, rather than through your own is crucial
in achieving mutual understanding.

16. Analyzing Perceptions
Everyone sees him or herself, others, events, and the
world from a different viewpoint.
How do you know you really saw what you think you
saw
or heard what you think you heard?
The secret to checking perceptions is
never to assume that the truth is the
actual, absolute truth.

17. Questions for checking perception
Do I stay alert?
Do I strive for sensory awareness?
Am I making conscious choices about what to tune in or out?
Do my choices focus on what is most important rather than
what is most obvious?
Am I easily distracted?
Am I aware of factors that influence my self-talk?
Do I ask myself”Is this really what I saw or heard or merely what
I told myself I saw or heard?
Do I compare my perceptions to the perceptions of others to
check for accuracy?

18. Take Responsibity for Your Own Communication
If you feel your message is not understood, it is your
responsibility to check the receiver’s perceptions.
Ask questions to make sure the receiver got your
intended message.
Perception checking will make your interpersonal
communication more effective.