1. Identify the shortcuts individuals use in making judgments about others.

The shortcuts we use in judging others are frequently valuable: they allow us to
make accurate perceptions rapidly and provide valid data for making predictions.
There are following shortcuts used in forming impression of others:
I.
II.
III.
IV.

Selective Perception
Halo Effect
Contrast Effects
Stereotyping

I.

Selective Perception
Selective Perception happens when a person selectively interprets what he
sees on the basis of his interests, background, experience, and attitudes.
It is impossible for a person to integrate everything he sees, hears, smells,
touches or tastes.
Only a limited number of stimuli can be taken in. As a result, people engage
in selective perception, but the process is affected by personal interests,
background, experience and attitude of the perceiver.

II.

Halo Effect
Halo Effect occurs when one attribute of a person or situation is used to
develop an overall impression of the person or situation.
In short, this occurs when we draw a general impression on the basis of a
single characteristic.

III.

Contrast Effects
Contrast Effects refer evaluations of a persons characteristics that are
affected by comparisons with other people recently encountered who rank
higher or lower on the same characteristics.
Here, we do not evaluate a person in isolation. Our reaction to one person
is influenced by other persons we have recently encountered.

Important Notes for Final Term

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IV.

Stereotyping
Stereotyping is judging someone on the basis of ones perception of the
group to which that person belongs.
Generalization is not without advantages.
It is a means of simplifying a complex world, and it permits us to maintain
consistency. The problem, of course, is when we inaccurately stereotype.

Important Notes for Final Term

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