Perceptual Problems

Dr. G C Mohanta, BE, MSc(Engg), MBA, PhD(Mgt)

Professor

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Perceptual ProblemsCommon perceptual problems include:

Stereotypes

Profiling

Halo effects.

Selective perception.

Projection.

Contrast effects.

Self-fulfilling prophecy.

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Stereotypes/Profiling

Judging someone or something on the basis of

one’s perception of the group to which that

belongs – a prevalent and often useful, if not

always accurate, generalization

Combines information based on the category or

class to which a person, situation, or object

belongs.

Profiling is a form of stereotyping in which

members of a group are singled out for intense

scrutiny based on a single, often racial, trait.

Selective Perception, Halo Effect & Contrast Effects

Selective Perception

People selectively interpret what they see on the basis of their interests, background, experience, and attitudes.

Halo Effect

Drawing a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic

Contrast Effects

Evaluation of a person’s characteristics that are affected by comparisons with other people recently encountered who rank higher or lower on the same characteristics

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Projection

The assignment of one’s personal attributes to other individuals.

Especially likely to occur in interpretation stage.

Projection can be controlled through a high degree of self-awareness and empathy.

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Self-fulfilling ProphecyThe tendency to create or find in another

situation or individual that which one expected to find.

Also called the “Pygmalion effect.”

Can have either positive or negative outcomes.

Managers should adopt positive and optimistic approaches to people at work.

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Impression Management

A person’s systematic attempt to behave in ways that create and maintain desired impressions in others’ eyes.

Successful managers:

Use impression management to enhance their own images.

Are sensitive to other people’s use of impression management.

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Distortion Management

Managers should:

Balance automatic and controlled information

processing at the attention and selection stage.

Broaden their schemas at the organizing stage.

Be attuned to attributions at the interpretation

stage.