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Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of social perception?
What is the primary focus of social perception?
What types of behaviors do we rely on to form impressions of others?
What types of behaviors do we rely on to form impressions of others?
Why do first impressions often rely on easily observable traits?
Why do first impressions often rely on easily observable traits?
Which emotion was suggested to be more easily detected on male faces according to research?
Which emotion was suggested to be more easily detected on male faces according to research?
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What is a characteristic of nonverbal communication?
What is a characteristic of nonverbal communication?
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What is the primary function of mirror neurons in relation to nonverbal behavior?
What is the primary function of mirror neurons in relation to nonverbal behavior?
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Which of the following best describes how nonverbal cues can contradict spoken words?
Which of the following best describes how nonverbal cues can contradict spoken words?
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What is the significance of the six major emotional expressions according to research?
What is the significance of the six major emotional expressions according to research?
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How can nonverbal cues substitute for verbal messages?
How can nonverbal cues substitute for verbal messages?
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What role do facial expressions play in communication according to Darwin's perspective?
What role do facial expressions play in communication according to Darwin's perspective?
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Study Notes
Social Perception
- Examines how we understand the behaviors and motivations of others.
- Helps interpret our own behavior and the behavior of others.
- We rely on observable behaviors: what people do, say, facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice.
First Impressions
- Based on observable things we see and hear.
- We communicate things nonverbally.
- Research suggests it is easier to detect anger on male faces and happiness on female faces.
Nonverbal Behavior
- Involves communication without words.
- Includes facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures, body position, use of touch, and gaze.
- Mirror neurons activate when we perform an action or see someone else perform it.
- Empathy is based on mirror neurons.
Functions of Nonverbal Behavior
- Expressing emotions: anger, happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, and sadness.
- Conveying attitudes: liking someone through smiles and eye contact.
- Communicating personality: extroversion through broad gestures and voice pitch.
- Contradicting spoken words: sarcasm.
- Substituting for verbal messages: the "ok" sign.
Facial Expressions of Emotion
- Research suggests that the six main emotions are universally recognized.
- Evolutionary significance in communicating emotional states for survival.
Culture and Nonverbal Communication
- Display rules differ across cultures.
- Gaze: In America, avoiding eye contact is suspicious; in some cultures, it can represent aggression.
- Personal space: Americans prefer distance, while other cultures are comfortable with closer proximity.
Emblems in Nonverbal Communication
- Nonverbal gestures with well-defined meanings within a culture.
- Have direct verbal translations, like the "ok" sign.
- Not universal.
Multichannel Nonverbal Communication
- Nonverbal information is present across different channels.
- Decoding accuracy increases when multiple channels are used.
Implicit Personality Theories
- Schemas that group personality traits together.
- Used to form impressions of people quickly.
- Can lead to incorrect assumptions and stereotypical thinking.
Internal Attribution
- Occurs when consensus is low, distinctiveness is low, and consistency is high.
- Suggests behavior is unique to the person and consistent across situations.
External Attribution
- Occurs when consensus is high, distinctiveness is high, and consistency is high.
- Suggests behavior is influenced by the situation and target.
Evaluation of Covariation Model
- Information about all attribution dimensions may not always be available.
- People still make attributions, relying more on consistency and distinctiveness.
The Fundamental Attribution Error
- Tendency to attribute behavior to internal disposition, ignoring situational factors.
- Also known as correspondence bias.
- Focus on the person, not the situation, leading to the error.
The Fundamental Attribution Error: Perceptual Salience
- The person is more perceptually salient than the situation.
- We focus attention on the person and are unable to see the situation.
Cultural Differences in Social Perception
- Social neuroscience evidence suggests analytical and holistic cognitive styles.
- Westerners are more analytical, focusing on individual elements.
- Easterners are more holistic, considering context and relationships.
Culture and the Fundamental Attribution Error
- Individualistic cultures prefer dispositional attributions.
- Collectivistic cultures prefer situational explanations.
Self-Serving Attributions
- Explanations for successes credit internal factors, and failures blame external factors.
- Help maintain self-esteem and a positive self-image.
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Description
This quiz explores the intricacies of social perception, focusing on how we interpret the behaviors and motivations of others through observable actions. It covers the significance of first impressions, nonverbal communication, and the functions that nonverbal behaviors serve in expressing emotions and personality. Test your understanding of these essential social concepts.
