Social Psychology Session 6 Social Perceptions Lecturer: Dr. Peace - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

College of Education School of Continuing and Distance Education

2014/2015 – 2016/2017

SOCI 323 Social Psychology

Session 6 – Social Perceptions

Lecturer: Dr. Peace Mamle Tetteh, Department of Sociology Contact Information: ptetteh@ug.edu.gh

Session Overview

What are perceptions? Are opinions the same as perceptions? What factors influence the perceptions we have of people, things or situations? Can we use the perceptions we have of others to explain their behavior? Additionally, how accurate are our perceptions and under what circumstances would these perceptions change and/or not change? These are the questions we shall seek to answer in this session. Specifically in this session, we shall explain how perceptions are formed using non-verbal communication. At the end of the session, the student will be able to:

• define and explain the process of social perception
• define non-verbal communication and identify the various channels/cues
• f non-verbal communication.
• explain how people form perceptions based on non- verbal cues
• identify the inaccuracies and the strengths of using non-verbal cues in

social perception.

Social Psychology

Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• Definition of Social Perceptions
• Definition of Non Verbal Communication
• Channels of Non-Verbal Communication
• Uses of Non-Verbal Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication, Technology and Gender
• Sample Question
• Summary of Session
• References

Social Psychology

Reading List

• Read chapter three (3) of the required text and the articles on

this session sis, posted on Sakai.

Social Psychology

DEFINING SOCIAL PERCEPTION

Topic One

Social Psychology

What is Social Perception?

• Social perception is ‘the process through which we seek to

know and understand other people (Baron & Branscombe, 2012)

• The process involves learning about the temporary causes
• f behavior as well as the more permanent causes of

behavior.

• To obtain information about the temporary causes of
• thers behavior (feelings and emotions) we focus on non-

verbal cues which are provided by others facial expressions, eye contact and body posture or movements.

Social Psychology

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

• This is communication between individuals that does not involve

the content of spoken language. It relies instead on an unspoken language of facial expressions, eye contact and body language (Baron & Branscombe, 2012)

• In many situations, behavior is strongly affected by temporary

factors and causes (shifting moods, emotions, fatigue etc). Thus to understand behavior, you must pay significant attention to such non verbal communication as people may not want to talk about how they feel even if asked.

• Thus, non verbal communication reveals much insight into other

peoples’ moods and feelings from silent language.

• The most revealing non verbal cues involve facial expressions (eye

contact), body movements and posture (body language).

Social Psychology

CHANNELS OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Topic Two

Social Psychology

Facial Expressions

• This channel of communication has the longest history of research,

starting with Darwin’s book in 1872.

• Many researchers have suggested that much human feelings, emotions

and attitudes are reflected on the face.

• The renowned philosopher Cicero indicates that,

“The face is the image

• f the soul”.
• Research (Rozin et al 1994) have indicated that five basic emotions are

expressed on the face namely happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust. These emotions tend to be the first to appear in human development.

• A sixth emotion has been suggested

as another emotion but current research is mixed on this. It thus suggests that though humans express this emotion, it may not be as basic as the other five.

• Its important to note that even though only 5/6 emotions are named,

humans are capable of expressing many more emotions than these.

Social Psychology

Facial Expressions

• Facial expressions are universal. People in all situations faced with

similar emotion provoking situations express similar cues.

• Also despite the geographical locations, these expressions are

meaningful to all people. Thus, all humans can encode (express or emit non verbal behavior) and decode (interpret the meaning of the non verbal behavior other people express).

• Non verbal cues are therefore ‘specie specific’ and not ‘culture
• specific. In other words they are specific to humanity and not to a

particular culture.

• Zagonc (1985) suggests that facial expressions and the capability to

universally recognize and or interpret them has survival value. Thus, through the process you can warn others of impending danger or can help prepare them for aggression against outside attackers (through signs of facial anger).

Social Psychology

Facial Expressions

• However, even though many non verbal cues can be decoded by others who are

watching, it sometimes can be a challenging task. Your decoding of others non verbal cues can be inaccurate. This happens because of three reasons namely:

• Affect blends (facial expressions in which one part of the face registers one

emotion while another part of the face registers a different emotion.)

• Pretence: The instance when people try to appear less emotional than they are so

that others will not know how they really feel.

• Culture (Ekman et al): Every culture has ‘display rules’ (culturally defined rules

about which non verbal behaviors are appropriate to display). For instance, cultural norms discourage Ghanaian men from emotional displays such as grief or crying (‘Barima nsu’- a man does not cry).

• Again in Japan cultural rules dictate that women should not exhibit a broad

uncontrolled smile- if they do they hide it behind their hands (France, Hecht, & Paluck, 2003).

Social Psychology

Eye Contact

• You can learn about others feelings through the eyes (love, joy, sadness

etc) - “the eyes are the windows to the soul”.

• A high level of gazing or eye contact may be signs of liking or

friendliness (Lienke 1986). Too much and continuous gazes (staring) may be interpreted as a sign of hostility or anger (Ellsworth and Carl smith, 1973). It may also mean friendliness, attraction, suspicion or even surprise, depending on the situation.

• This non verbal cue is also shaped by culture. In some cultures, direct

eye contact may be considered invasive or disrespectful, whereas in

• thers avoiding eye contact may be suspicious.
• For instance in some Asian countries and even in traditional Ghanaian

society, you are not expected to look directly into an adults eye as a sign of respect. However in other places as the United States, you must not avoid eye contact if you want to portray yourself as an honest person.

Social Psychology

Eye Contact

• This non verbal cue is also shaped by culture. In

some cultures, direct eye contact may be considered invasive or disrespectful, whereas in others avoiding eye contact may be suspicious.

• For instance in some Asian countries and even in

traditional Ghanaian society, you are not expected to look directly into an adults eye as a sign of respect.

• However in other places as the United States, you

must not avoid eye contact if you want to portray yourself as an honest person.

Social Psychology

Body Language

• Body language refers to cues provided by the position,

posture and movements of others’ bodies or body parts. Body language often reveals much about other peoples’ emotional states.

• Large amounts of movements, especially ones in which a

particular part of the body does something to another (e.g. scratching, lip licking, rubbing) suggest emotional arousal or nervousness (Knapp 1978).

• Body movements can also reveal much about others physical

status (e.g. age, vigor, and gait). Thus, though you may not see peoples’ faces, their current moods and emotions can be known through the movements and positions of their bodies.

Social Psychology

Gestures and Emblems

• Gestures are an aspect of body movements. An type
• f gestures is Emblems: are body movements that

carry a highly specific meaning in a given culture (e.g. thumbs up).

• Emblems vary from culture to culture, though all

human situations have some emblems that have meaning to all- examples- greetings, departures, insults etc.

• Can you think of any emblems specific to your

culture?

Social Psychology

OTHER SOURCES OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Topic Three

Social Psychology

Communicating Via Personal Space

• How people use personal space is another form of non

verbal communication. Standing ‘too far’ or ‘too close’ from

• thers

while you speak to them may affect their impressions about you.

• Again, cultures vary in what they consider ‘normal’ spacing
• r the normative use of personal space.

Social Psychology

Communicating Via Touch

The factors to consider in this context are:

• Who does the touching (a family member, friend stranger,

gender etc)

• What is the nature of the physical contact or touch (gentle or

rough; brief or prolonged)

• Which part of the body is touched (handshake, hug, pat on

the back etc)

• The context within which this touching takes place (in a

doctors office, a social setting as a stadium or theatre etc)

• Depending on these factors, touch can suggest several things

from affection, love to hatred.

Social Psychology

Communicating Via Body Scent

• Research has identified body scent as a subtle non-

verbal cue

• Miller & Maner (2010) found a correlation between

shifts in body chemistry occurring during women’s menstrual cycle and

• thers

(especially men)testosterone levels.

• Thus changes in body chemistry, reflected in subtle

changes in body odour, can serve as an informational non verbal cue (Baron & Branscombe, 2012:75)

Social Psychology

USES OF NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Topic Four

Social Psychology

Self Presentation

• Non verbal cues apart from being an important source of

information about others are useful for social interaction. It is used mainly in self presentation and in the detection of deception.

• Self presentation involves the use of several techniques designed

to create a favorable impression of yourself to others. Non verbal communications have been used to induce favorable reactions in

• thers by people controlling their non verbal behaviors.
• If you want to impress people, you may smile frequently, lean

forward, maintain high eye contact, and nod in agreement at your target person’s statements in situations as a job interview, dates and social events.

Social Psychology

NVC & Detection of Deception

• Micro Expressions: This refers to fleeting facial expressions

lasting only a few tenths of a second. Such reactions appear very quickly before persons can put their masks on (Ekman and Friessent 1976).

• Eye Contact: ‘The eyes have one language everywhere’

(George Herbert- English Poet 1593-1633). When individuals avoid your gaze or blink frequently they most probably are not being truthful. (Klienke, 1986).

• Liars also show more dilated pupils than those who are telling

the truth. They may also show an unusually low level of eye contact or an unusually high one as they try to fake being honest by looking others right in the eye.

Social Psychology

NVC & Detection of Deception

• Adapters: This refers to instances when individuals move their hands and touch

various parts of their body while speaking. In more cases than not, the person is

• lying. You may notice that some people scratch their head, twist their fingers, pull

their nose or chin etc. These may all be indications of deception.

• Exaggerated facial Expressions: Persons who are lying may sometimes show

exaggerated facial expressions like smile more or too broadly. Sometimes you may mistakenly think that those who smile at you cannot deceive you. But smiling is commonly used by deceivers to hide their feelings.

• Again the structure of peoples face (when people portray a sweet ‘baby face’ you

tend to think that they are truthful). In such cases, you could pay attention to

• ther non verbal cues or body movements.
• Another way to know if a person is lying is when they show greater sorrow than is

typical in a given situation. For example if someone says ‘no’ to a request you have made, and then shows exaggerated regret, it may most likely be that the reasons the person is giving you for saying ‘no’ are not exactly true.

Social Psychology

NVC & Detection of Deception

• Inter-channel Discrepancies: Differences noticed between different

channels or NVC may be an indication of deception

• Changes

in Speech (Para language): some aspects of people’s linguistic style can be revealing of deception. Instances of pitch of voice rising slightly (Zukerman et al 1981), many pauses and sentence repairs and hesitations (Stiff et al 1989), shorter answers, slower speech, ahs and uhms, fast speech may suggest deception.

• That is, if you know someone to be a fast talker/or a slow talker and

all of sudden, in response to something, they start taking too fast or slow, you may need to watch closely for deception.

Social Psychology

Sample Question

• ‘With non-verbal communication, you cannot, not

communicate’. Discuss.

Social Psychology

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION: TECHNOLOGY & GENDER

Topic Five

Social Psychology

Gender and NVC

• Many studies have indicated that women are better than men at

both encoding and de-coding non verbal information.

• However, the exception is that women are good at de-coding non

verbal cues when a person is telling the truth, whilst men are better at detecting lies (Rosenthal & De Paolo, 1979).

• This has been explained by Alice Eagly’s (1987) social role theory.

This theory explains that the social expectations and roles assigned women by society, makes them more polite, nurturing, friendly and sensitive than men. Thus, in the face of deception, they turn off their non verbal cue decoding skills in polite deference to the speaker.

• Also, because women usually occupy many low positions in society,

it tends to be more important for women to have to be more polite and accommodating than it is for men (Deaux & Major, 1987).

Social Psychology

Technology and NVC

• The dilemma and challenge with e-mails (social media) is that

words go out but there are no non verbal cues to give them additional meaning.

• Emotions (humor, sadness, sarcasm) are stripped away and

the words stand alone, open to potential misinterpretations.

• To prevent this, we sometimes try to add emoticons but some
• f

these emoticons are difficult to interpret

• r

are inappropriate to use especially when the message is formal.

• Thus, words alone as used in e-mail communication can be

easily misunderstood, which may lead to problems for interpersonal relationships.

Social Psychology

Summary of Session

• In this session we have explain how the temporary

causes of behavior can be explained using non-verbal communication

• Non-verbal communication occurs through many
• cues. Ones ability to decode and encode these cues

and their obvious and subtle meanings help in self presentation and in detecting deception.

• Technology has made the interpretation of some

nonverbal cues quite complex

Social Psychology

References

• Robert, B. and Branscombe, N. (2012). Social Psychology.

13th Edition. Pearson Education, Inc.

• Aronson, E., Wilson, T. & Akert, R. (2007) Social Psychology.

6th Edition. Pearson Education Inc.

• Aronson, E., Wilson, T. & Akert, R. (2010) Social Psychology.

7th Edition. Pearson Education Inc.

Social Psychology