SOCI 323 Social Psychology Session 6 – Social Perceptions Lecturer: Dr. Peace Mamle Tetteh , Department of Sociology Contact Information: ptetteh@ug.edu.gh College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education 2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Session Overview What are perceptions? Are opinions the same as perceptions? What factors influence the perceptions we have of people, things or situations? Can we use the perceptions we have of others to explain their behavior? Additionally, how accurate are our perceptions and under what circumstances would these perceptions change and/or not change? These are the questions we shall seek to answer in this session. Specifically in this session, we shall explain how perceptions are formed using non-verbal communication. At the end of the session, the student will be able to: • define and explain the process of social perception • define non-verbal communication and identify the various channels/cues of non-verbal communication. • explain how people form perceptions based on non- verbal cues • identify the inaccuracies and the strengths of using non-verbal cues in social perception. Social Psychology
Session Outline The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows: • Definition of Social Perceptions • Definition of Non Verbal Communication • Channels of Non-Verbal Communication • Uses of Non-Verbal Communication • Non-Verbal Communication, Technology and Gender • Sample Question • Summary of Session • References Social Psychology
Reading List • Read chapter three (3) of the required text and the articles on this session sis, posted on Sakai. Social Psychology
Topic One DEFINING SOCIAL PERCEPTION Social Psychology
What is Social Perception? • Social perception is ‘the process through which we seek to know and understand other people (Baron & Branscombe, 2012) • The process involves learning about the temporary causes of behavior as well as the more permanent causes of behavior. • To obtain information about the temporary causes of others behavior (feelings and emotions) we focus on non- verbal cues which are provided by others facial expressions, eye contact and body posture or movements. Social Psychology
What is Non-Verbal Communication? • This is communication between individuals that does not involve the content of spoken language. It relies instead on an unspoken language of facial expressions, eye contact and body language (Baron & Branscombe, 2012) • In many situations, behavior is strongly affected by temporary factors and causes (shifting moods, emotions, fatigue etc). Thus to understand behavior, you must pay significant attention to such non verbal communication as people may not want to talk about how they feel even if asked. • Thus, non verbal communication reveals much insight into other peoples’ moods and feelings from silent language. • The most revealing non verbal cues involve facial expressions (eye contact), body movements and posture (body language). Social Psychology
Topic Two CHANNELS OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION Social Psychology
Facial Expressions • This channel of communication has the longest history of research, starting with Darwin’s book in 1872. • Many researchers have suggested that much human feelings, emotions and attitudes are reflected on the face. • The renowned philosopher Cicero indicates that, “The face is the image of the soul” . • Research (Rozin et al 1994) have indicated that five basic emotions are expressed on the face namely happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust. These emotions tend to be the first to appear in human development. • A sixth emotion has been suggested as another emotion but current research is mixed on this. It thus suggests that though humans express this emotion, it may not be as basic as the other five. • Its important to note that even though only 5/6 emotions are named, humans are capable of expressing many more emotions than these. Social Psychology
Facial Expressions • Facial expressions are universal. People in all situations faced with similar emotion provoking situations express similar cues. • Also despite the geographical locations, these expressions are meaningful to all people. Thus, all humans can encode (express or emit non verbal behavior) and decode (interpret the meaning of the non verbal behavior other people express). • Non verbal cues are therefore ‘specie specific’ and not ‘culture specific. In other words they are specific to humanity and not to a particular culture. • Zagonc (1985) suggests that facial expressions and the capability to universally recognize and or interpret them has survival value . Thus, through the process you can warn others of impending danger or can help prepare them for aggression against outside attackers (through signs of facial anger). Social Psychology
Facial Expressions • However, even though many non verbal cues can be decoded by others who are watching, it sometimes can be a challenging task. Your decoding of others non verbal cues can be inaccurate. This happens because of three reasons namely: • Affect blends ( facial expressions in which one part of the face registers one emotion while another part of the face registers a different emotion. ) • Pretence: The instance when people try to appear less emotional than they are so that others will not know how they really feel. • Culture (Ekman et al): Every culture has ‘display rules’ (culturally defined rules about which non verbal behaviors are appropriate to display). For instance, cultural norms discourage Ghanaian men from emotional displays such as grief or crying (‘ Barima nsu ’ - a man does not cry). • Again in Japan cultural rules dictate that women should not exhibit a broad uncontrolled smile- if they do they hide it behind their hands (France, Hecht, & Paluck, 2003 ). Social Psychology
Eye Contact • You can learn about others feelings through the eyes (love, joy, sadness etc) - “the eyes are the windows to the soul” . • A high level of gazing or eye contact may be signs of liking or friendliness (Lienke 1986). Too much and continuous gazes (staring) may be interpreted as a sign of hostility or anger (Ellsworth and Carl smith, 1973). It may also mean friendliness, attraction, suspicion or even surprise, depending on the situation. • This non verbal cue is also shaped by culture. In some cultures, direct eye contact may be considered invasive or disrespectful, whereas in others avoiding eye contact may be suspicious. • For instance in some Asian countries and even in traditional Ghanaian society, you are not expected to look directly into an adults eye as a sign of respect. However in other places as the United States, you must not avoid eye contact if you want to portray yourself as an honest person. Social Psychology
Eye Contact • This non verbal cue is also shaped by culture. In some cultures, direct eye contact may be considered invasive or disrespectful, whereas in others avoiding eye contact may be suspicious. • For instance in some Asian countries and even in traditional Ghanaian society, you are not expected to look directly into an adults eye as a sign of respect. • However in other places as the United States, you must not avoid eye contact if you want to portray yourself as an honest person. Social Psychology
Body Language • Body language refers to cues provided by the position, posture and movements of others’ bodies or body parts. Body language often reveals much about other peoples’ emotional states. • Large amounts of movements, especially ones in which a particular part of the body does something to another (e.g. scratching, lip licking, rubbing) suggest emotional arousal or nervousness (Knapp 1978). • Body movements can also reveal much about others physical status (e.g. age, vigor, and gait). Thus, though you may not see peoples’ faces, their current moods and emotions can be known through the movements and positions of their bodies. Social Psychology
Gestures and Emblems • Gestures are an aspect of body movements. An type of gestures is Emblems: are body movements that carry a highly specific meaning in a given culture (e.g. thumbs up). • Emblems vary from culture to culture, though all human situations have some emblems that have meaning to all- examples- greetings, departures, insults etc. • Can you think of any emblems specific to your culture? Social Psychology
Topic Three OTHER SOURCES OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION Social Psychology
Communicating Via Personal Space • How people use personal space is another form of non verbal communication. Standing ‘too far’ or ‘too close’ from others while you speak to them may affect their impressions about you. • Again, cultures vary in what they consider ‘normal’ spacing or the normative use of personal space. Social Psychology
Communicating Via Touch The factors to consider in this context are: • Who does the touching (a family member, friend stranger, gender etc) • What is the nature of the physical contact or touch (gentle or rough; brief or prolonged) • Which part of the body is touched (handshake, hug, pat on the back etc) • The context within which this touching takes place (in a doctors office, a social setting as a stadium or theatre etc) • Depending on these factors, touch can suggest several things from affection, love to hatred. Social Psychology
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