CMN 003 MODULE 2. Perceptions and
Interpersonal Needs
Perception - answer Process by which we interpret our experiences and come to our
unique understandings
-affects how we communicate with others and how we interpret others' communications
Schemas - answer Mental structures that help us put together information
-form patterns and meaning to help us understand things
Assimilation - answerNew info is incorporated into existing schemas
Accommodation - answerChanging schemas or creating new ones with new info
Challenges to schemas - answer-causes to exclude important info and instead focus on
things that confirm preexisting ideas
-may lead to uncritical passive info processing or MINDLESSNESS: reduced cognitive
activity, reduced recall, and uncritical evaluation
-SELECTIVE PERCEPTION: select info based on existing schemas
-DISTORTED PERCEPTION: lead is to judge events based on what stood out most
-UNDUE INFLUENCE: give a piece of info more credit than it deserves
-leads to PREJUDICE
Attributions - answerUse personal characteristics to try to explain behavior
-INTERNAL ATTRIBUTIONS: attributed behavior to someone's personality
-EXTERNAL ATTRIBUTIONS: Attributed behavior to something outside someone's
personal control
Fundamental Attribution Error - answerOveremphasize internal and underestimate
external attributions when it comes to others, but opposite is true when it comes to
ourselves
Self Serving Bias - answerAttribute positive factors to ourselves, but negative events to
external factors
-flip fundamental attribution error
Diversitt - answerdifferences among people, like race, education, etc
Perceptual Barriers - answerChallenges we may encounter that can give rise to barriers
in competent communication
-Narrow perspective
Interpersonal Needs
Perception - answer Process by which we interpret our experiences and come to our
unique understandings
-affects how we communicate with others and how we interpret others' communications
Schemas - answer Mental structures that help us put together information
-form patterns and meaning to help us understand things
Assimilation - answerNew info is incorporated into existing schemas
Accommodation - answerChanging schemas or creating new ones with new info
Challenges to schemas - answer-causes to exclude important info and instead focus on
things that confirm preexisting ideas
-may lead to uncritical passive info processing or MINDLESSNESS: reduced cognitive
activity, reduced recall, and uncritical evaluation
-SELECTIVE PERCEPTION: select info based on existing schemas
-DISTORTED PERCEPTION: lead is to judge events based on what stood out most
-UNDUE INFLUENCE: give a piece of info more credit than it deserves
-leads to PREJUDICE
Attributions - answerUse personal characteristics to try to explain behavior
-INTERNAL ATTRIBUTIONS: attributed behavior to someone's personality
-EXTERNAL ATTRIBUTIONS: Attributed behavior to something outside someone's
personal control
Fundamental Attribution Error - answerOveremphasize internal and underestimate
external attributions when it comes to others, but opposite is true when it comes to
ourselves
Self Serving Bias - answerAttribute positive factors to ourselves, but negative events to
external factors
-flip fundamental attribution error
Diversitt - answerdifferences among people, like race, education, etc
Perceptual Barriers - answerChallenges we may encounter that can give rise to barriers
in competent communication
-Narrow perspective
