Title: 2.4 Improving Perception – Interpersonal Communication Textbook
Headings: 2.4 Improving Perception
2.4 Improving Perception
Learning Objectives
Overcoming Barriers to our Perceptions/Perceiving Others
Develop Empathetic Listening Skills
Beware of Stereotypes and Prejudice
Engage in Self-Reflection
Checking Perception
Perception Checking Steps
Improving Self Concept
Avoid Reliance on Rigid Schema
Be Critical of Socializing Forces
Beware of Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
Create and Maintain Supporting Interpersonal Relationships
Beware of Distorted Patterns of Thinking and Acting
Key Takeaways
Exercises

Content: If a communication encounter doesn’t go well and you want to know why, your self-reflection will be much more useful if you are aware of and can recount your thoughts and actions. Self-reflection can also help us increase our cultural awareness. Our thought process regarding culture is often “other focused,” meaning that the culture of the other person or group is what stands out in our perception. However, the old adage “know thyself” is appropriate, as we become more aware of our own culture by better understanding other cultures and perspectives. Developing cultural self-awareness often requires us to get out of our comfort zones. Listening to people who are different from us is a key component of developing self-knowledge. This may be uncomfortable, because our taken-for-granted or deeply held beliefs and values may become less certain when we see the multiple perspectives that exist. We can also become more aware of how our self-concepts influence how we perceive others. We often hold other people to the standards we hold for ourselves or assume that their self-concept should be consistent with our own. For example, if you consider yourself a neat person and think that sloppiness in your personal appearance would show that you are unmotivated, rude, and lazy, then you are likely to think the same of a person you judge to have a sloppy appearance.