comm ch 2

Identify and explain the three stages of perception.

1. Sort = Organize = awareness of our surroundings and selecting from all of the stimuli before us. Selection occurs when we mentally sort one thing from another, based on our previous experiences. · 2., we organize the information in a way that makes sense to us. Organization is the sorting, or categorizing of information. · 3., Interpret = we interpret or assign meaning. We use our experiences to help interpret the meaning of stimuli.

Define proximity in terms of perception. Why is this a bad method of organizing information?

Answer: · Proximity is the grouping of two or more stimuli that are close to one another based on the assumption that, because objects or people appear together, they are similar. · It is not unusual to think that people whose appearance, race, are similar or who reside in the same community or belong to the same organization perceive things in the same way. But this is not necessarily true and good communicators verify and do NOT categorize individuals based on their proximity to one another.

Define Selective exposure Define selective attention Define selective retention

Answer: · Selective exposure is the deliberate process of making choices to experience or avoid particular stimuli. Answer: Selective attention is the process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring or downplaying others. Answer: Selective retention occurs when we process, store, and retrieve information that we have already selected, organized, and interpreted.

Define values, beliefs and attitudes.

Answer: · Values = Relatively long-lasting principles or standards that guide our behavior or judgment of what is important in our lives are called values. ·Attitude= judgment in terms of likes and dislikes about oneself, others, events, ideas, or objects is called an attitude. ·Belief= A belief is a conviction or confidence in the truth of something that is not based on absolute proof.

Discuss the concept of perceptual set.

Answer: ·A perceptual set is previously determined view of events, objects, or people. It allows our past experiences to control our perceptions so that we ignore information that is different or has changed about an event, object, or person. It is a form of stereotyping.

A belief can best be explained as __________. a. a conviction b. a preference c. a desire d. a feeling

Answer: a

Before his job interview, Anderson buys a new suit and gets a haircut. On the morning of his interview, he tells himself that he is a great candidate for this job and that the interviewer is sure to like him. Anderson's preparations are a type of __________. a. impression management b. other-enhancement c. low self-esteem d. self-fulfilling prophecy

Answer: a

Bob continually communicates with 28-year-old Lisa as if she were still a child. In Bob's eyes, Lisa will always be "his little girl." This illustrates the fact that __________ can interfere with effective communication. a. a perceptual set b. dispositional attribution c. gender d. situational attribution

Answer: a

What are the three primary elements of the perception process? a. selecting, organizing, and interpreting information b. creating, understanding, and selecting information c. creating, interpreting, and organizing information d. selecting, deconstructing, and remembering information

Answer: a

What is most valued by cultures with a collectivistic orientation? a. the group b. the self c. individualism d. personal achievement

Answer: a

When dealing with individuals with different cultural backgrounds, competent communicators should develop the ability to __________. a. adapt their perceptions b. focus on personal goals c. avoid interpretation of stimuli d. use selective exposure

Answer: a

When someone asks Maria to describe herself, she usually says she is a first-generation Latino-American. This description represents Maria's __________. a. self-image b. public identity c. self-enhancement d. self-esteem

Answer: a

When we describe ourselves as members of a group, we tend to emphasize __________. a. ways we are similar to other group members b. what we wish to change about the group c. ways the group can shape our identity d. what we dislike about the group

Answer: a

Which strategy is essential to improving self-concept? a. Make a commitment to improve or change. b. Ignore why you are unhappy. c. Focus on your best qualities, and forget about the negative ones. d. Set overly optimistic goals.

Answer: a

Perception checking involves which communication strategy? a. verifying information b. trusting your intuition c. making assumptions d. jumping to conclusions

Answer: a Good communicators verify info and don't assume. Accurately interpret and check your perceptions to improve your communication competence.

The tendency to fill in missing pieces and to extend lines in order to finish or complete figures illustrates what organizational process? a. closure b. proximity c. similarity d. complexity

Answer: a (like in a drawing or a puzzle that is incomplete)

According to the text, our social identity involves __________. a. what we aspire to become b. how we see and evaluate ourselves c. what we hide from the world d. how others see us

Answer: b

In his assertion that "Nothing is clear in and of itself but in some context for some person," communication scholar Robert L. Scott meant that __________. a. when we talk with others, we say things in certain ways that undermine the creation of meaning b. one person's perceptions are not more accurate than another's c. words are static and unchanging d. communication occurs in a linear, step-by-step fashion

Answer: b

In research involving videos of 9-month old infants, observers identified the infant as either male or female based on __________. a. size b. name c. beauty d. behavior

Answer: b

Jenn likes to document her daily life on Snapchat and Instagram. She posts what she's eating, where she's going and who she is hanging out with. It is clear that Jenn has a high degree of __________. a. online communication apprehension b. online self-disclosure c. online communication competence d. online miscommunication

Answer: b

Mae is a little anxious when it's time for her first mid-term exams in college. But she prepares thoroughly, and expects to get good grades just as she always has. Mae's expectations reflect which aspect of self-concept? a. other-enhancement b. self-fulfilling prophecy c. self-enhancement d. impression management

Answer: b

Relatively long-lasting principles or standards that guide our behavior are known as __________. a. opinions b. values c. beliefs d. attitudes

Answer: b

The categorizing of events, objects or people without regard to unique qualities or characteristics is most reflective of __________. a. impartiality b. stereotyping c. attribution d. perception

Answer: b

When we make deliberate choices to experience or to avoid experiencing particular stimuli, we engage in __________. a. selective set b. selective exposure c. perceptual set d. selective attention

Answer: b

Which behavior would be most helpful in improving your communication competence? a. Take the roles of perception at face value. b. Seek out as much information as possible. c. Trust your inferences as correct. d. Always go with your first perception.

Answer: b

According to Gonzales and Hancock, why does social media use tend to enhance our self-esteem? a. eliminates our communication anxiety b. helps us practice our social skills c. information we post is usually positive d. increases our social contacts

Answer: c

Generally, when does gender consistency develop for most people? a. in utero b. at birth c. between ages 4 to 7 d. between ages 14 to 17

Answer: c

Kate is putting together a puzzle. She places silver puzzle pieces in one pile, purple puzzle pieces in another pile, and pink puzzle pieces in a third pile. What organizational strategy helps Kate to understand this information? a. closure b. proximity c. similarity d. complexity

Answer: c

Online social connection is the belief that online communication enables __________. a. apprehension b. self-esteem c. social contact d. miscommunication

Answer: c

Our perceptions are based on __________. a. universal meaning b. the experiences of our peer group c. our personal experiences d. the meaning assigned by our culture

Answer: c

The way we want to appear to others is referred to as our __________. a. perceived self b. social self c. presenting self d. real self

Answer: c

What is identified as a critical component in the initial development of our self-concept? a. genetic inheritance b. generational cohort c. parental communication d. media

Answer: c

What statement is correct about the process of perception? a. Perception is a simple process. b. Perception is universal. c. Perception involves selecting, organizing, and interpreting information. d. Perception of a single communication event provides a complete picture.

Answer: c

When Janet wakes up on Sunday, the rain outside makes her think to herself what a great day for getting organized. On Monday when she wakes up and it's rainy outside, she thinks to herself how gloomy and depressing the day ahead will be. The difference in Janet's perception can best be attributed to __________. a. physical characteristics b. cultural background c. psychological state d. gender

Answer: c

Which statement is the best example of an inference? a. Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States. b. Thanksgiving was established as a national holiday during the Lincoln administration. c. The Gettysburg Address was among the most influential presidential addresses in history. d. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

Answer: c

Which term refers to something that is socially constructed? a. sex b. cognition c. gender d. anatomy

Answer: c

According to the model developed by social psychologist John Kinch, what directly affects or alters our behavior? a. our responses to other's behavior b. our attitudes and beliefs c. our perceptions of other's responses d. our innate self-concept

Answer: c ( eg, if we think they see us as a bad singer we may no longer want to sing in public)

A statement which is objective and is easily verified is a(n) __________. a. belief b. inference c. opinion d. fact

Answer: d

According to psycholinguist Deborah Tannen, male conversations are __________. a. seeking support b. negotiations to reach consensus c. seeking intimacy d. negotiations to gain the upper hand

Answer: d

At work, Clarence is always pleasant and efficient and seems to get the job done with a minimum of fuss. At home, Clarence often seems to lose his temper over the least little thing. What do these two situations tell us about Clarence and his self-concept? a. No person is an island. b. We all manage to maintain a coherent image of our respective selves. c. Our perceptions of others and events are usually objective. d. We define ourselves and behave differently in different situations.

Answer: d

Instead of accepting that external factors influence other people's behavior, George attributes the bank teller's rudeness this morning to being "that kind of person." George's belief reflects __________. a. a perceptual set b. discrimination c. profiling d. a fundamental attribution error

Answer: d

Which statement is correct regarding the social identity level of the personal-social identity continuum? a. We can experience all aspects of our self-concept simultaneously. b. Our personal identity characterizes how alike we are to others. c. Self-identity has little influence upon our behavior. d. Characterizing ourselves depends upon comparisons to others.

Answer: d

Which type of men and women are identified by psychologists as those most likely to be successful in their interactions and careers? a. individuals with strictly male traits b. individuals with strictly female traits c. individuals with neither male nor female traits d. individuals with both male and female traits

Answer: d

You arrive at a mall you have never visited before, and you are not sure where your favorite store is located. You approach an information kiosk to ask for directions, because you have received directions at other information kiosks before. This illustrates what strategy used for interpretation? a. interpretation based on new situations b. interpretations based on others' opinions c. interpretation based on a new situation d. interpretation based on experiences

Answer: d

Shraddha enjoys being around outgoing people, but she dislikes those who brag about themselves. Shraddha's feelings about people she prefers reflect a(n) __________. a. standard b. value c. belief d. attitude

Answer: d (attitude=like or dislike)