PERCEPTION Perception is defined as the process by which an individual selects, organizes and interprets stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world. Factors that Influence Perception Characteristics of the Perceiver Characteristics of the Target Characteristics of the Situation 1. Characteristics of the Perceiver • Attitude The attitude and aptitude of employees influence perception formation. If they have positive attitudes towards the management, they directly perceive the stimuli given by management. In the case of negative attitudes, the employees suspect the management’s approach. Employees of high aptitude have a desire and attitude for growth. They behave positively toward the management of an organization. • Motives The motives and desires of employees cause them to view stimuli differently as per their level and angle. Helpful motives of the employees will always assist the management. If they desire to develop themselves and the organization, they will perceive objects and situations positively. Employees having low motives will not work sincerely. The perception will differ depending on different types of motives. • Interest The interest of individuals draws more attention and recognition to stimuli. Less attention and recognition lower the impact of stimuli or objects on behaviour. If employees lack interest, behaviour pattern will be less effective, and the perception will be weak. • Experience The experience of employees results in different levels of perception. A young employee takes time to understand the object and situation. Experienced employees generally understand objects quickly and correctly. However, in contradictory situations, it is difficult to correct aged persons, whereas the young are easily moulded towards achieving the objectives of the organization. • Expectation Expectations distort perceptions. People see what they expect to see. If they see the object and the situation differently from their expectations, they get frustrated. The employees may expect more pay and so they perceive the management from that angle. The real stimuli are not properly perceived if expectations exist there on. The management has to evolve expectations for proper perception. • 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. 2. Characteristics of the Target • Physical appearance Physical appearance plays a big role in our perception of others. The perceiver will notice the target’s physical features like height, weight, estimated age, race and gender. Perceivers tend to notice physical appearance characteristics that contrast with the norm, that are intense, or that are new or unusual. • Verbal communication Verbal communication from targets also affects our perception of them. We listen to the topics they speak about, their voice tone, and their accent and make judgements based on this input. • Non-verbal communication Non-verbal communication conveys a great deal of information about the target. The perceiver deciphers eye contact, facial expressions, body movements, and posture all in an attempt to form an impression of the target. • Objects Objects that are close to each other will tend to be perceived together rather than separately. As a result of physical or time proximity, we often put together objects or events that are unrelated. 3. Characteristics of the Situation • Time The situation in which the interaction between the perceiver and the target takes place has an influence on the perceiver’s impression of the target. • Work setting You would have very frequently heard people say that their manager is different during working hours and opposite while in a social setting. • Social setting The strength of the situational cues also affects social perception. Some situations provide strong cues as to appropriate behaviour. In these situations, we assume that the individual’s behaviour can be accounted for by the situation and that it may not reflect the individual’s disposition. This is the discounting principle in social perception.