Perception and Attribution
What is Perception and Attribution?
Perception is the process by which individuals select, organize, and interpret
sensory input. People’s behavior is based on their perception of what reality is,
not on reality itself.
Attribution is an explanation of the cause of behavior.
Factors that Influence Perception
Perception in Organizations
Perception
The set of processes by which an individual becomes aware of and interprets
information about the environment:
- Selective Perception
- Stereotyping
Attribution Theory
We attribute causes to behavior based on our observations of certain
characteristics of that behavior.
- Consensus
- Consistency
- Distinctiveness
Basic Perceptual Processes
Attribution Theory: Judging Others
Perception and judgment of others is significantly influenced by assumptions of the other
person’s internal state.
When individuals observe behavior, they attempt to determine whether it is internally or
externally caused.
- Internal causes
-External causes
Causation judged through:
- Distinctiveness
- Consensus
- Consistency
Errors and Biases in Attributions
Fundamental Attribution Error
-The tendency to underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate
the influence of internal factors when making judgments about the behavior of others
- We blame people first, not the situation
Self-Serving Bias
- The tendency for individuals to attribute their own successes to internal factors
while putting the blame for failures on external factors.
- It is “our” success but “their” failure
Frequently Used Shortcuts in Judging
Others
Selective Perception
-People selectively interpret what they see on the basis of their interests, background,
experience, and attitudes
Halo Effect
-Drawing a general impression about an individual on the basis of a single characteristic
Contrast Effects
-Evaluation of a person’s characteristics that are affected by comparisons with other people
recently encountered who rank higher or lower on the same characteristics
Another Shortcut: Stereotyping
Judging someone on the basis of one’s perception of the group to which
that person belongs – a prevalent and often useful, if not always accurate,
generalization
Profiling
- A form of stereotyping in which members of a group are singled out for
intense scrutiny based on a single, often racial, trait.
Specific Shortcut Applications in Organizations
Employment Interview
-Perceptual biases of raters affect the accuracy of interviewers’
judgments of applicants
-Formed in a single glance – 1/10 of a second!
Performance Expectations
-Self-fulfilling prophecy (Pygmalion effect): The lower or higher
performance of employees reflects preconceived leader expectations about
employee capabilities
Perceptions and Individual Decision Making
Problem - A perceived discrepancy between the current state of affairs and
a desired state
Decisions - Choices made from among alternatives developed from data
Perception Linkage:
All elements of problem identification and the decision-making
process are influenced by perception.
-Problems must be recognized
-Data must be selected and evaluated
Types of Workplace Behavior
Workplace Behavior - A pattern of action by the members of an organization that directly
or indirectly influences organizational effectiveness
Performance Behaviors:
All of the total set of work-related behaviours that the organization expects the individual
to display
Dysfunctional behavior-are those that detract from organizational performance.
Turnover
Absentesim
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