Week 3: Self, Identity, Perception & Attribution
Week 3 Summary
Week Summary
This week, we explored how our self-concept develops through social interaction and how we perceive others through a process of selection, organization, and interpretation. We examined attribution theory and the fundamental attribution error - our tendency to explain others' behavior as character-based while excusing our own as situationally caused. We also learned perception checking as a practical tool for improving communication accuracy.
Key Takeaways
- 1Self-concept develops through reflected appraisals, social comparison, cultural influences, and self-observation
- 2Perception happens in three stages: selection, organization, and interpretation
- 3Attribution involves explaining behavior as internally caused (personality) or externally caused (situation)
- 4The fundamental attribution error leads us to overestimate personality factors for others' behavior
- 5Perception checking (describe, interpret, clarify) helps us avoid jumping to inaccurate conclusions
Coming Up Next Week
Next week, we'll explore verbal communication - the power of language in shaping our messages and relationships. We'll examine how words carry meaning, common language barriers, and how to communicate assertively and clearly.