Page 218 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Unit 10: Emotions and Perception

workers, workers are perceiving managers, line personnel are perceiving staff personnel, staff Notes
personnel are perceiving line personnel, superiors are perceiving subordinates, subordinates
are perceiving superiors and so on. There are numerous complex factors that enter into such
social perception, but the primary factors are found in the psychological process and personality.

10.2.1 Factors Influencing Perception

A number of factors operate to shape and sometimes distort perception. These factors can reside:
1. In the perceiver

2. In the object or target being perceived or
3. In the context of the situation in which the perception is made.
1. Characteristics of the Perceiver: Several characteristics of the perceiver can affect perception.
When an individual looks at a target and attempts to interpret what he or she stands for,
that interpretation is heavily influenced by personal characteristics of the individual
perceiver. The major characteristics of the perceiver influencing perception are:
(a) Attitudes: The perceiver's attitudes affect perception. For example, suppose Mr. X is
interviewing candidates for a very important position in his organisation – a position
that requires negotiating contracts with suppliers, most of whom are male. Mr X
may feel that women are not capable of holding their own in tough negotiations.
This attitude will doubtless affect his perceptions of the female candidates he
interviews.
(b) Moods: Moods can have a strong influence on the way we perceive someone. We
think differently when we are happy than we do when we are depressed. In addition,
we remember information that is consistent with our mood state better than
information that is inconsistent with our mood state. When in a positive mood, we
form more positive impressions of others. When in a negative mood, we tend to
evaluate others unfavourably.
(c) Motives: Unsatisfied needs or motives stimulate individuals and may exert a strong
influence on their perceptions. For example, in an organisational context, a boss
who is insecure perceives a subordinate's efforts to do an outstanding job as a threat
to his or her own position. Personal insecurity can be translated into the perception
that others are out to "get my job", regardless of the intention of the subordinates.
(d) Self-Concept: Another factor that can affect social perception is the perceivers' self-
concept. An individual with a positive self-concept tends to notice positive attributes
in another person. In contrast, a negative self-concept can lead a perceiver to pick
out negative traits in another person. Greater understanding of self allows us to
have more accurate perceptions of others.
(e) Interest: The focus of our attention appears to be influenced by our interests. Because
our individual interests differ considerably, what one person notices in a situation
can differ from what others perceive. For example, the supervisor who has just been
reprimanded by his boss for coming late is more likely to notice his colleagues
coming late tomorrow than he did last week. If you are preoccupied with a personal
problem, you may find it hard to be attentive in class.
(f) Cognitive Structure: Cognitive structure, an individual's pattern of thinking, also
affects perception. Some people have a tendency to perceive physical traits, such as
height, weight, and appearance, more readily. Others tend to focus more on central
traits, or personality dispositions. Cognitive complexity allows a person to perceive
multiple characteristics of another person rather than attending to just a few traits.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 213