A study about perception in Organizational Behavior.

by Muneef Akothan

Perception is a process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment.

However, what we perceive can be substantially different from objective reality.

Because peoples behavior is based on their perception of what reality is, not on reality itself.

The world as it is perceived is the world that is behaviorally important.

Nature of perceiver Situation Target or object being perceived

Factors in the perceiver

Attitude Motives Interests Experience Expectations

Perception
Factors in the target Factors in the situation
Time Work setting Social setting Novelty Motion Sounds Size Background Proximity Similarity

Attribution theory tries to explain the ways in which we judge people differently , depending on the meaning we attribute to a given behavior. It suggests that when we observe an individuals behavior , we attempt to determine whether it was internally or externally caused.
Internally

caused behaviors are those we believe to be under the personal control of the individual. Externally caused behavior is what we imagine the situation forced the individuals to do.

 Distinctiveness consistency of a persons

behavior across situations. Consensus likelihood of others responding in a similar way. Consistency whether an individual responds the same way across time.

External Distinctiveness Internal

External
Individual behavior

Consensus Internal

External Consistency Internal

Selective perception

Halo effects
Contrast effects Stereotypes or prototypes Projection

 The tendency to single out those aspects

of a situation, person, or object that are consistent with ones needs, values, or attitudes.
Perception checking with other persons

can help counter the adverse impact of selective perception.

 Occur when one attribute of a person or

situation is used to develop an overall impression of the individual or situation.

Likely to occur in the organization stage. Important in the performance appraisal

process.

 Occur when an individual is compared to

other people on the same characteristics on which the others rank higher or lower.

 Combines information based on the

category or class to which a person,

situation, or object belongs.

Strong impact at the organization stage.

 The assignment of ones 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.

Employment Interview Performance Expectations Performance Evaluation

Impression management A persons systematic attempt to behave in ways that create and maintain desired impressions in others eyes.

Distortion

management.

Managers should:

Balance automatic and controlled information

processing at the attention and selection stage.

 Be self-aware. Seek a wide range of differing information.

Try to see a situation as others would.

Be aware of different kinds of schemas. Be aware of perceptual distortions.

Be aware of self and impression management.

Be aware of attribution theory implications.