PERCEPTION, THE

SELF, AND
COMMUNICATION
 CHAPTER 2:
COMMMUNICATION
AND THE SELF
DPSY 1073
COMMUNICATION AND PERSUASION
Self-Concept Defined
• Self-concept is a set of stable perceptions individuals have of
themselves
• It's like a mental mirror that reflects how you view yourself
• Includes aspects such as gender identity, age, religion,
occupation, physical features, emotional states, talents, likes
and dislikes, values, and roles
• The self-concept shows what is unique about you and what
makes you similar or different from others
Self-Concept Defined
• Self-esteem is an important element of the self-concept that
involves evaluations of self-worth
• Communication plays a powerful role in shaping self-esteem, as
close and supportive interactions with others can enhance it
• People with high self-esteem are more likely to take chances on
new relationships and show affection to others, which can
further boost their self-esteem
• Individuals with healthy self-esteem are more likely to believe
and enjoy compliments and are more resilient in the face of
criticism or bullying
Biology, Personality, and the Self
• Personality reflects characteristic ways of thinking and behaving
across situations and tends to be stable throughout life
• Research suggests that temperament at age 3 is highly predictive of
adult behavior
• Genes determine about 40% of personality traits, such as shyness,
novelty seeking, emotional expressiveness, or assertiveness
• However, experiences can also shape personality and communication
styles
• Communication skills can be learned and built into one's repertoire
Biology, Personality, and the Self
• The self-concept is closely related to communication, as it
reflects how we see ourselves and influences how we interact
with others
• Factors that shape the self-concept include biological traits, such
as personality and genetics, as well as social and cultural
influences
• Understanding these factors can help us develop effective
communication skills that align with our self-concept and enable
us to connect with others
External Influence on the Self-Concept
1. The Influence of Genetics and Communication on Identity
• Identity is shaped by genetics and communication with others
• Personality tends to be stable throughout life, but experiences
can change how you communicate
• Experiences can silence or activate genes, which can shape
personality and self-concept
External Influence on the Self-Concept
2. Reflected Appraisal and the Influence of Others on Self-
Concept
• Reflected appraisal is the influence of others on one's self-concept
• Positive and negative messages can shape self-concept
External Influence on the Self-Concept
3. Social Comparison and Self-Assessment
• Social comparison is the process of evaluating oneself in
comparison to others
• People use social comparison to form their self-assessment
• Both positive and negative comparisons can affect self-concept
Culture and the Self-Concept
• Cultural assumptions affect how people view themselves and others.
• Example: An American might view a thin and healthy person as
attractive, while a Jamaican might view the same person as stressed
and unwell.
• Most Western cultures are highly individualistic, meaning they value
individuality and independence.
• Many Asian cultures are traditionally more collectivistic, meaning
they value group identity more than autonomy.
• These cultural differences have powerful implications for
communication.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Defined
• A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person’s expectation of
an outcome and subsequent behavior make the outcome more
likely to occur.
• This phenomenon can occur in various contexts, such as
personal relationships, academics, and work.
• Example of a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Suppose a person believes that they are not good at public
speaking. This belief may cause them to feel anxious and
perform poorly in a public speaking event.
PERCEIVING OTHERS
Perception - the way people regard others and the
world around them.
Steps in the Perception Process
1. Selection, which involves paying attention to some stimuli while
ignoring others.
• External factors can influence what we notice such as those that are
louder, larger, or brighter than their surroundings, often attract our
attention
• Contrast/changes, personal goals, and emotional factors also shapes
what you select
2. Organization, which involves arranging information in a way that
makes sense.
• Psychologists call this the figure-ground principle of perception.
• The figure-ground principle of perception is the process by which the
mind distinguishes between an object and its background
Steps in the Perception Process
3. Interpretation, the process of making sense of our perceptions.
• It plays a role in virtually every type of communication.
• Factors that influence interpretation include past experiences,
expectations, and cultural background.
Influences on Perception
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS
• Physiological factors such as a person's developmental stage, health, nutrition,
and biological cycles can affect perception and communication.
• Neurological disorders such as ADHD and bipolar disorder can also influence
people's perceptions.
• Social and cultural expectations related to gender, race, and ethnicity can have a
powerful impact on identity, perception, and communication.
• Stereotypes can lead people to focus on behaviors that seem to support the
stereotype, and gender expectations, in particular, can feel confining.
• Race and ethnicity can also influence identity and perceptions of others,
contributing to implicit bias
Influences on Perception
2. STEREOTYPES FACTORS
• Social and cultural expectations have a powerful influence on identity,
perception, and communication
• Stereotypes - oversimplified or inaccurate ideas tied to social
categorization
• Once people apply a stereotype, they may focus on behaviors that seem to
support it
Influences on Perception
3. RELATIONAL ROLES
• Our roles in relation to others affect our perceptions
• Examples of roles: parent, spouse, friend, roommate, etc.
COMMUNICATION AND
IDENTITY
MANAGEMENT
Identity management - communication strategies
meant to influence how others view us.
Public and Private Selves
• The perceived self is a private reflection of the self-concept, and
it includes personal feelings, thoughts, and beliefs that are not
shared with others.
• Reviewing your self-concept list can help you identify private
elements of your perceived self that you may not disclose to
others due to fear of judgment, rejection, or negative
consequences.
• Examples of private elements of self-concept include personal
beliefs about appearance, intelligence, goals, and motives.
Public and Private Selves
• The presenting self is the image we want to show to others,
which is often a socially approved image.
• Facework refers to the verbal and nonverbal ways people
maintain their own presenting image and the images of others.
• This involves managing our own identity and communicating in
ways that reinforce the identities others are trying to present.
• For example, using self-deprecating humor can preserve the
other person's face while showing that you're a nice person
who doesn't find faults in others.
Identity Management and Social Media
• Research suggests that text-based interactions, such as emails,
texts, and tweets, can often contribute to self-esteem more than
in-person and telephone conversations.
• This is because people tend to disclose more about themselves
in writing and technology makes it possible to receive support
from people who may not be available in person.
• However, self-esteem is not boosted when people present an
unrealistically positive image of themselves online.
• It's important to be authentic and share what happens naturally,
rather than manufacturing a perfect image to impress others.
Characteristics of Identity Management
1. People Have Multiple Identities
• In the course of even a single day, most people take on a
variety of roles: respectful student, joking friend, friendly
neighbor, and helpful worker, to suggest just a few.
• The ability to construct multiple identities is one element of
communication
• competence.
• For example, your the style of speaking and the language you
use can reflect choices about the social identity you wish to
construct.
Characteristics of Identity Management
2. Identity Management Is Collaborative
• When people communicate about their identity, they are
essentially engaging in a kind of performance, where they are
trying to portray a certain image or persona to others.
• However, the people they are communicating with are also
doing the same thing, creating their own persona.
• In a way, it's like a collaborative improvisation where everyone
is playing a role in a theatrical production.
Characteristics of Identity Management
3. Identity Management Can Be Conscious or Unconscious
• Some of our communication involves a conscious attempt to manage
impressions.
• People manage their identity and behavior in different situations and
cultures. This is known as "frame switching.”
• However, people often act based on habits or unconscious responses
without realizing it.
• This can involve displaying different nonverbal cues in person versus
on the phone or slipping into familiar roles in certain situations.
Characteristics of Identity Management
4. People Differ in Their Degree of Identity Management
• High self-monitors pay attention to their own behavior and adjust
it to create a desired impression, while low self-monitors are more
focused on expressing their true thoughts and feelings.
• High self-monitors can handle social situations smoothly and often
get the desired reaction from others, but may not fully experience
events because they are detached.
• Low self-monitors have a more limited repertoire of behaviors and
may seem awkward or tactless in some situations.
• Neither extremely high nor low self-monitoring is ideal;
communicative competence requires flexibility.
Identity Management in the Workplace
• As you consider how to manage your identity at work, consider the following:
1. Proceed with caution. In an ideal world, everyone would be free to reveal
themselves without hesitation. But in real life, total candor can have
consequences, so it is best to move slowly.
2. Assess the organization’s culture. If people in your workplace seem
supportive of differences—and especially if they appear to welcome
people like you—then revealing more of yourself may be safe.
3. Consider the consequences of not opening up. Keeping an important
part of your identity secret can also take an emotional toll.
4. Test the waters. If you have a trusted colleague or manager, consider
revealing yourself to that person and asking advice about whether and
how to go further. But realize that even close secrets can leak, so be sure
the person you approach can keep confidences.