Improving the way we perceive others

1. IDENTIFYING
PERCEPTION BARRIERS

2. IMPRESSION FORMATION
THEORY
WE FORM GLOBAL
PERCEPTION OF OTHERS
BASED ON GENERAL
QUALITIES, BEHAVIORS
AND DISCLOSED
INFORMATION.

3. Implicit Personality
Theory
WE DEVELOP A SET OF
RELATIONSHIPS
AMONG PERSONALITY
CHARACTERISTICS.

4. Attribution Theory
WE DEVELOP REASONS TO
EXPLAIN THE BEHAVIORS OF
OTHERS. WE ATTRIBUTE
OTHERS’ ACTIONS TO THE
CIRCUMSTANCE, A STIMULUS
OR TO THE PERSON.

5. IGNORING INFORMATION
People sometimes don’t
focus on important
information because we
give too much weight to
information that is obvious
and superficial.

6. OVERGENERALIZING
People treat
small amounts of
information as
if they were
highly
representative.

7. OVERSIMPLIFYING
People prefer
simple
explanations to
complex ones.

8. STEREOTYPING
Preconceived notions
about what they expect
to find may keep people
from seeing what’s
before their eyes and
ears.

9. IMPOSING CONSISTENCY
People overestimate
the consistency and
constancy of others’
behaviors.

10. FOCUSING ON THE NEGATIVE
People give more
weight to negative
information than to
positive information.

11. What should
we do?

12. LINK DETAILS WITH
THE BIG PICTURE

13. BECOME AWARE OF
OTHERS’ PERCEPTIONS
OF YOU.

14. INCREASE YOUR
AWARENESS.

15. BECOME OTHER-ORIENTED

16. CHECK YOUR
PERCEPTIONS

17. INDIRECT PERCEPTION CHECKING
Seeking additional information
to confirm or refute
interpretations you are making
through passive perception
such as observing and
listening.

18. DIRECT PERCEPTION CHECKING
Asking for information
from the observed person
of n interpretation or a
perception about him or
her.