Perception and the perceptual process

Perception is the process through which people receive, organise and interpret information from their environment.

Perception is not necessarily the same as reality.

Perception is a way of forming impressions about oneself, other people and daily experiences.

Perception is how we…
SELECT
ORGANISE
INTERPRET
RETRIEVE
…information from the environment

Factors influencing the perceptual process

The perceiver: a person’s needs or motives, past experiences, values, attitudes and personality
The setting: the physical, social and organisational context
The perceived: contrast, intensity, size, motion and repetition or novelty

A halo effect occurs when one attribute of a person is used to develop an overall impression, and usually occurs at the organisation stage of perceptual process

Projection is where one’s personal attributes are assigned to other individuals.

Schemas are cognitive frameworks developed through experience

Stereotyping occurs when information is being organised and sorted in different categories or stereotypes. Stereotypes obscure individual differences

Stereotyping

Stereotyping occurs when an individual is assigned to a group or category and the attributes commonly associated with the group or category are assigned to the person in question.

Perceptions about age and performance

Age and performance have been found to be unrelated. Older workers are less likely than younger workers to leave a job. Older managers are more at risk of being retrenched and will have more difficulty finding employment that matches his or her old jobs in terms of income or security. China promotes older workers staying at work. Japan promotes retirement at 50.

Perceptions about gender and performance

Since 1972 Australian women have received equal pay for equal work. The gap between male and female earnings is narrowing. Women are more likely to be transformational leaders.