Course Lesson Lesson Title Author Development Date

Number State

Psychology 68 Interpersonal Ilanna S. October 29,

perceptions Mandel 2008
Discusses the types of misunderstandings (both verbal and
VC-2.2 Discuss how social and nonverbal) that can occur between people of different cultures
cultural categories affect (e.g., differences in interpersonal space, attitude toward silence
behavior. in a conversation)

Understands specific ways in which language has shaped the

The student understands the
reactions, perceptions, and beliefs of the local, national, and
power of language.
global communities.

1. Prepare Phase

OPENING REMARKS:
Have you ever been in a conversation where you felt that the person was saying one
thing verbally but indicating something else with their body language? Have you
ever felt that you were getting mixed signals from someone? Have you ever been with
someone who you felt was disrespectful of your personal space?

The ways in which we communicate with others depends very much on our perceptions
of others and ourselves. These perceptions are taught to us in different ways: at home
with our family (and from a cultural perspective), at school with our friends and teachers,
in social situations, as members of a team or other group association, through
communications we see on tv, film and the Internet.

Today you’ll learn about INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTIONS – the ways in which we

perceive others and the ways in which they perceive us in turn.

Lesson Expectations

Discusses the types of misunderstandings (both verbal and nonverbal) that can occur
between people of different cultures (e.g., differences in interpersonal space, attitude
toward silence in a conversation)

Understands specific ways in which language has shaped the reactions, perceptions, and
beliefs of the local, national, and global communities.
 2. Deliv er & Pr actice P hase

When you’re in a conversation with others do you rely on this?

In other words, are you mostly just listening to the words? Or, do you rely on this?

Do you rely on what you can see directly?

Do you pay attention to body language?

Or do you react with your emotions?

However you communicate, your perceptions are always at work whether you’re aware
of them or not.

Seinfeld – Exclamation Point (2:12)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rd7j-aSqFU

In this brief clip we see Seinfeld doing what they do best – they play up the ways in
which people communicate. Watch for the exaggerations in both language and body
language. Notice how quickly a normal conversation can escalate. Of course people don’t
end relationships over grammar but it does bring up a few interesting questions:

1. What is it about others that we perceive as ‘bothersome’?

2. Why do you think those qualities or characteristics bother you specifically?
3. Is it something you feel that you’ve been aware of up to now?

Seinfeld ‘gay’ (3:05)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OjjlelN4hg

In this clip the show plays peoples’ negative perceptions of persons who are gay for
laughs. What perceptions in particular do you see them making fun of?

1. Have you ever perceived something about someone then found out that your
perceptions were off?
2. Why do you think you perceived that person in that particular way?
3. Note the comedic stereotypes they make fun of

HOW AND WHY WE PERCEIVE OTHERS AS WE DO

So, why do we develop the perceptions of people that we do?

Where do our perceptions come from?
Please watch this series of short videos and make notes with the questions to guide you

What is Interpersonal Perception? (1:24)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5HYroYJ9pk

Improving Personal Perception (1:45)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6M-1BpOSRg

What does the above videos say about ‘giving people the benefit of the doubt’?
What do they say about trying to ‘be a mind reader’?

Personal Perceptions (1:20)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H58qnPui2hI

How does this video help you understand the use of positive communications to help with
perceptions of others?

Improving Personal Perceptions (1:40)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=der3WZ11Fx8

What does this video tell you about ‘mood’ and how that affects our perceptions of
others?
What does the video tell you about developing a ‘bias’ towards others?

Testing Perceptions of Others (1:20)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMDsZtiIgXE

Why would you want to check out your perceptions of others?

How does this help you develop your perceptions of other?
How is it different than ‘gossip’?

EXERCISE:

Create a conversation between two people who haven’t known each other very long. The
two of them have totally misunderstood each other. Because of this they don’t get along
and now they’re trying to resolve their differences.

1. Explain the misperceptions they have of each other

2. Show how these came about
3. Show a way for them to learn more about each other in a positive way

Integrate the information from the videos above but don’t quote. Demonstrate that you
understand the information on how perceptions of others are formed and used.
CULTURE AND PERCEPTIONS

Now that you’ve learned something about your own perceptions and how they’re formed,
we’ll move on to how our cultural backgrounds influence our perceptions of others.
Here’s a wonderful article from Scientific American on the connections between culture
and perception.

http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=EC04BBF9-EC69-C83D-
F002C6456C0E4C4F

EXERCISE

Your family has decided to take in a foreign student from Iraq for the year. You have
become aware that some of your friends and fellow students have some negative ideas
about them and don’t treat them very nicely because of this. In a 2-3 page essay write
how you would explain to your friends about the ways in which culture affects our
perceptions of others and how this can help them to learn about the young student visiting
from Iraq.

3. S ummariz e Phase

Students will have learned to:

Discuss the types of misunderstandings (both verbal and nonverbal) that can occur
between people of different cultures (e.g., differences in interpersonal space, attitude
toward silence in a conversation)

Understands specific ways in which language has shaped the reactions, perceptions, and
beliefs of the local, national, and global communities.

4. As sessmen t Phase
Quiz – True or False

1. We can never get a clear perception of someone from just one meeting.
a. True
b. False
Yes, it takes time to truly know someone and understand who they are, how they feel
and what they value.

2. If two people have developed misperceptions of each other, it’s really their problem
and not mine.
a. True
b. False
No, this can go on to affect other people too. If you feel there’s a role for you to play,
you can always ask them if they’d like your help.
3. People from different cultures perceive space between people in different ways.
a. True
b. False
Yes, this is true. In some cultures people like to stand further apart, and in others
they believe in standing in closer proximity. These norms and values do vary across
cultures.

4. Language affects our perceptions of the world around us. Therefore, someone who
speaks a different language than us might see the world very differently than we do.
a. True
b. False
Yes, this is definitely true. Language and culture affect perception.

5. In some instances we need to pay more attention to words than body language.
a. True
b. False
No, we should always try and pay attention to both.

6. Body language can mean different things in different cultures.

a. True
b. False
Yes, this is also true.

7. Within a single language you can have two different speakers who are actually saying
different things using the same words.
a. True
b. False

8. Certain expressions we use in English can always be translated into other languages so
that people from other cultures can understand us.
a. True
b. False
No, there are many expressions in English (as there are in other languages) that
don’t translate across languages and cultures.

9. One of the ways we can understand people better is to check our perceptions with
others.
a. True
b. False
Yes, this is true. It can be helpful to check with others and see how they perceive
someone. However, this still doesn’t make it true. We are always free to develop our
own perceptions of others. Sometimes the group can be wrong.
10. If you and someone else have a misunderstanding, it’s best to try and communicate
about it as soon as possible.
a. True
b. False
Yes, absolutely true. It’s always best to get things out in the open and deal with them
in a sensitive, yet honest manner.

Extra Assignment

One of the most negative aspects about perceptions is stereotyping. Please write a 2
page essay about a culture or group of people whom you feel are victims of stereotyping.
Please try and give at least a couple of practical examples.

5. Ad di tional R esou rces