Perceptual side of communication: psychological content

Perceptual side of communication

Communication as the exchange of information (communicative side of communication) Communication as interaction (interactive side of communication) Communication as people’s perception of each other (perceptual side of communication)

Social perception is people’s perception, understanding and evaluation of social objects (other people, themselves, groups, social communities, etc.). The term social perception was introduced by the American psychologist J. Bruner.

It was found that the perception of social objects has a number of specific features that qualitatively distinguish it from the perception of inanimate objects. First, the social object (individual, group, etc.) is not passive and indifferent towards the perceiving subject, as is the case with the perception of inanimate objects. By influencing the subject of perception, the perceived person seeks to transform the idea of himself in a direction favorable to his goals.

Secondly, the attention of the subject of social perception is focused primarily not on the moments of image generation as a result of the reflection of perceived reality, but on semantic and evaluative interpretations of the object of perception, including causal ones (casual attribution)

Perceptual function of communication

Quite often, people's reaction to any events is determined by how people perceive and whether they even want to perceive these events.

A person at a certain point in time partially perceives the sensory stimuli available to him. He interprets them in accordance with his expectations, values, and ideas. The perception of communication partners of each other is an obligatory component of this communication - conditionally, this can be called the perceptual side of communication.

The perceptual function is interpersonal perception. It must be said that in the traditional general psychological sense, the word “perception” will not be entirely accurate, because its features, in addition to the external characteristics of the object, will also include behavioral and psychological characteristics. Therefore, as a synonym, the expression not perception, but knowledge of another person, will be justified.

When communicating, interpersonal perception will include the following points:

the perception and evaluation of the message will be in the light of the current needs of the addressee;
Based on the differences in the experience of the addressee and the sender, distortions in the meaning of the message will be inevitable;
unfamiliar information that is outside the recipient’s experience is perceived more slowly;
solutions in an unfamiliar situation are guided by those that have already been tested in a similar situation;
the accuracy of message interpretation cannot be determined using language alone.

Note 2

These circumstances must be taken into account, because knowing another person is an integral part of the communication process. Perception of the addressee, therefore, means the perception of his external signs in accordance with personal characteristics.

The impressions that arise in the process of communication play an important regulatory role. In the process of getting to know another person, there is an emotional assessment of this person, an attempt to understand the meaning of his actions, and a strategy for one’s own behavior is being built.

Communication requires a minimum of two people, both of whom are active subjects and each of whom compares himself to the other.

Hence, when building an interaction strategy, you have to take into account the motives, attitudes, and needs of the other, and not just your own. In addition, it is necessary to take into account how the addressee understands the needs, motives and attitudes of the addressee.

This suggests that awareness of oneself through a communication partner will have two sides - identification and reflection.

Identification refers to the way in which another person is understood through conscious or unconscious assimilation of oneself to his characteristics.

For example, what the internal state of a communication partner is can be guessed by imagining his life situation and his feelings about it.

Identification is the simplest way to understand another person. Identification is related to empathy, i.e. an emotional response to a partner’s problem, empathy for his internal state.

Reflection is the second complex phenomenon on which the interaction between partners also depends. Reflection is understood as the addressee’s awareness of how his communication partner perceives him.

It must be said that the psychological term “reflection” differs from the philosophical one. Reflection in philosophy is the subject’s knowledge of himself.

Functions and purpose

The functionality of perception includes knowing oneself and a partner, organizing joint actions, and establishing an emotional relationship.

Perceptual communication is based on three components: subject, object and the process of perception. Perception research is based on two components:

content side (characteristic features of subjects, objects of perception);
procedural part (analysis of the mechanisms and effects of perception).

The content part is the attribution of character traits, reasons for behavior, and role in communication to the object. The procedural side reveals the mechanisms of awareness and the effects of perception (novelty, primacy, stereotypes).

Perceptual component

This component allows you to correctly interpret the appearance and behavior of your interlocutor.

Based on the information received, a conclusion is drawn about the personality characteristics and reasons for actions.

Without perception, communications would be quite superficial and ineffective. A person would perceive only the “external picture” - the image of the opponent and his words.

Real thoughts, motives of behavior, hidden experiences and much more would escape attention. It is thanks to social perception that it becomes possible to accurately perceive surrounding objects and build effective interaction with them.

This component is fully manifested when a person is free from stereotypes, predetermined attitudes and beliefs. They interfere with an objective assessment of a partner and in advance form a certain image in the mind, which is often far from reality.

It is also important not to rush to a conclusion and give yourself time to form a reliable assessment. Often people make erroneous conclusions about the interlocutor with whom they communicated for a fairly short time

A person’s personality can be correctly assessed only by obtaining comprehensive information about him and observing him in different life situations.

The perceptual component allows you to change an already established opinion about an individual.

Sometimes people meet a person they knew well in the past and are surprised to discover significant changes in his character.

Such an opportunity to abandon the initial assessment that was formed earlier appears as a result of understanding and accepting those characteristics of the interlocutor that are observed in him at the current moment in time.

The perceptual side of communication and its mechanisms

The process accompanied by emotional contact between people begins at the moment of meeting and visualizing each other.

Throughout the entire conversation, each of them has mechanisms in place that help them understand:

motives of behavior;
strategies for building dialogue;
planning further interaction.

Such mechanisms are considered:

Empathy is the ability to sympathize and understand another person in a difficult situation for him or when performing certain actions. When the interlocutor is able to put himself in the opponent’s place in a given situation, assess the situation and respect his logic of behavior, the communication process is easier and misunderstandings do not arise.
Identification is the ability to compare oneself with a partner and draw a conclusion about the similarity of judgments, views, and points of view. If they are close, then establishing relationships will be successful.
Reflection is the opportunity to conduct self-analysis after a dialogue with a friend or stranger at the first contact. At this time, it is necessary to understand how communication with this particular person is useful, beneficial or valuable for the individual.

These aspects are present in the perceptual side of communication. In some individuals they may not be as pronounced as in others, which depends on the level of development, intelligence, and abilities.

Functions of social perception

Social perception is a complex process during which people understand and evaluate the social objects around them (people, groups, communities).

As a result of such a process, certain stable images are formed in the individual’s consciousness.

Briefly about the main functions of perception:

Knowing yourself. Awareness of oneself through other objects. It is during social interaction that a person receives information about himself and food for thought. Often, the perception of the personality of the interlocutor helps to determine those inherent aspects of him that resonate in his own mind. As a result, a person reveals his hidden needs, desires, and doubts.
Knowing your partner. You can get to know a person, understand his views and beliefs only through communication at the perceptual level. This is the only way to get reliable information about someone.
Gaining trust, establishing and effectively developing contact is possible only as a result of perceiving the opponent’s personality.
Human activity is impossible without communication. Comradely, friendly, friendly, love relationships are impossible without communication.

Organization of joint activities. Understanding or acceptance by subjects of each other’s social relations is the basis for the further construction of joint activities. A clear understanding of the motives, attitudes and values of a partner allows you to develop a model of effective interaction with him. If we are talking not about the interaction of individuals with each other, but about relationships in a group, then the role of social perception only increases. The joint activities of group members become effective only when they are all able to accept or understand each other’s attitudes.

Building mutual understanding. In the process of communication, people achieve mutual understanding, which is the cementing factor of any social relationship (family, romantic, business, etc.).

Finding common points of interests, identifying common views and beliefs allows you to find a compromise and enjoy joint activities.

Establishing emotional relationships. Man is an emotional being, so any social interaction evokes certain emotions in him. When people come into contact, they form certain emotional relationships: sympathy, hostility, rejection, joy, etc.

How to learn effective communication?

There are many ways and tips to improve your communication skills, but we provide you with the most interesting and effective ones.

Always be aware of the context of what is happening. You need to understand what format your dialogue has:

Social event.
Formal contact at work or at home.
Random episodic meeting.
Asymmetrical situation (in training, leadership).
A game.
Relaxed informal dialogue.

Based on the context, it will be easier for you to choose the right behavior style.

Choose the right behavior style. Each situation dictates its own style of behavior and action. If you misread the context, communication will be difficult.

You have probably seen from the outside how ridiculous a person looks who behaves inappropriately in the context and how dozens of barriers are immediately erected between him and others.

It is believed that there are three styles of behavior: humanistic, manipulative and ritual.

Humanistic is a style that is aimed at mutual study of the ideas of partners, which leads to the emergence of empathy.

Manipulative - you are trying to instill your point of view in another person. It's just a tool that you can use for good or bad.

The ritual style is determined by a certain culture. In American society, it is customary to answer “Wonderful!” to the question “How are you?”

If you correctly understand the context of the situation, and also manage to choose the right behavior, you will significantly increase your chances that your message will be received as intended.

Use transactional analysis. Eric Berne in his book “Games People Play” presents his original view of transactional analysis - a direction that involves regulating the actions of interlocutors by regulating their positions. For Bern, these are the Parent (“I must!”), the Adult (“I want!” and “I must!”) and the Child (“I want!”).

You will communicate effectively with people if your positions coincide. For example, if a person approaches you in the role of an Adult, and you answer him in the same way. If there is a Parent-Adult or Parent-Child interaction, the goal of the conversation may not be achieved.

We wish you good luck!

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Key words:1Profiling

Mechanisms of social perception

The perceptual side of communication includes several important tools that allow you to establish effective interpersonal interactions.

Reflection

This is the ability to analyze your actions, draw conclusions from what happened and see possible ways of developing the situation. In building communication, it is relevant at the moment when we are trying to visualize the impression we make on our opponent. The result may or may not meet expectations.

To reflect means to be able to look at the process from the outside, analyze what is happening and try to get to the essence of the problem through rational understanding.

Identification

Identifying oneself with the interlocutor, trying to put oneself in his place and look at the problem through the prism of his perception. This mechanism allows you to better understand and accept the speaker’s position.

Empathy

Represents the ability to empathize and sympathize. The more subtle a person’s mental organization is, the more developed his empathy is. Such people can analyze the internal state of their opponent simply by observing his behavior.

Anthropological, social and aesthetic stereotyping

An assessment of an individual's psychological characteristics is based on various stereotypes. Thus, many believe that deep-set eyes indicate toughness and secrecy, and weak hands indicate a lack of hard work.

Personal status, financial situation, and external attractiveness are also taken into account.

Attraction

An assessment of an individual that is based on a stable, long-lasting positive feeling towards a partner. It promotes the formation of closer interpersonal connections: friendship, love, affection.

Casual attribution

Interpretation of phrases and actions of the interlocutor based on personal assumptions and previous experience. This is an attempt to find out the reasons for this or that behavior, but not through observation and obtaining information, but based on one’s own prejudices and conclusions.

This is interesting: A letter to a loved one after a quarrel: a thorough look at the issue

Types of perception

Depending on the organs of perception, perception is:

Visual . The movement of a person’s eyes is spasmodic, which is how a person processes the information received. But when it stops, the process of visual perception begins. This type of perception is influenced by a previously developed stereotype. For example, if a person is used to skimming text with his eyes all the time, it will be difficult for him in the future to learn to work through the material in depth. He may not notice large paragraphs of text, and then, when questioned, answer that they were not in the book at all.
Tactile . This function is responsible for the regulation, control and correction of working movements of the hands. This type of perception is based on tactile, temperature and kinetic sensations. But the organ of perception in this case is the hand, which, through palpation, helps to recognize the individual characteristics of an object.
Auditory . In human auditory perception, the phonemic and rhythmic-melodic systems occupy an important place. The human ear, unlike an animal's, is much more complex, richer and more mobile. This understanding actively involves the motor component, but this component is separated into a special separate system. For example, singing with a voice for musical hearing and reciting for speech hearing.

In addition to the above types of perception, there are two more in which information is reflected not through the senses, but through understanding:

Spaces, distances, distances, directions of objects located from us and from each other.
Time is the duration, speed and sequence of events. Each person has his own internal clock, which rarely coincides with the circadian rhythm. And so that a person can perceive this rhythm, he uses additional external signs and analyzers.

First impression mistakes

Information enters the human consciousness from three sources:

Visual perception, which forms a complex of visual images.
An auditory source formed by a combination of sounds.
The kinesthetic channel of management perception, built on sensations.

Important! Individual subjects of society are able to perceive and process data, focusing on three data sources. However, one channel is a priority; on its basis, the main perception, formation of thoughts, memories occurs

Modality (qualitative characteristics of sensations) in people (visual, auditory and kinesthetic, respectively) is formed individually.

Inequality

It arises against the background of a superior parameter that is subject to a positive assessment, or, conversely, if the subject is superior to the object of communication, the second is underestimated.

Attractiveness factor

An important factor is whether you like the appearance of the interlocutor. Under the influence of one factor, there is an overestimation or underestimation of the partner’s properties. With a positive perception of external parameters, there is a high probability of perceiving a person as an intelligent, interesting person.

Distorted perception of the interlocutor

Attitude factor

Social science says that people who have a kinder attitude seem better than those who have a bad attitude. Positivity generates a strong tendency to attribute positive qualities; as soon as the negative is included, the person will stop noticing the characteristic features of the partner and will begin to highlight the negative ones.

Errors in forming first impressions are called the halo effect, which is triggered by a number of reasons: prospect superiority, attractiveness and attitude.

The interactive side of communication

The interactive side of communication

consists in the regulation of behavior and the direct organization of joint activities of people in the process of their interaction. The concept of interaction is used in two ways: firstly, to characterize the actual real contacts of people (actions, counteractions, assistance) in the process of joint activity; secondly, to describe the mutual influences (impacts) on each other in the course of joint activities.

Interpersonal interaction

1) in a broad sense - accidental or intentional, private or public, long-term or short-term, verbal or non-verbal contact of two or more people, resulting in mutual changes in their behavior, activities, relationships and attitudes;

2) in a narrow sense - a system of mutually determined individual actions connected by a cyclical causal dependence, in which the behavior of each participant acts as both a stimulus and a reaction to the behavior of the others.

The structure of any interaction, according to N.V. Kazarinova, includes the following elements:

roles of interaction participants;
set and procedure;
rules and regulations governing the interaction and nature of the relationships between participants.

Behavioral flexibility

— the presence of an assortment of ways to respond, the ability to choose a method of action. It gives you more opportunities to influence the situation.

Situations for using behavioral flexibility

when planning an action – allows you to identify a number of possible approaches;
when difficulties or factors arise that were not taken into account in advance;
when a situation arises that other people have successfully dealt with, use their experience.

Perceptual side of communication

What is the perceptual side of communication?

Perception is a person’s reflection at the cognitive level of the objects and phenomena that he encounters.

The perceptual side of communication, from a psychological point of view, refers to the perception of another person, awareness of the characteristics of another person.

Perception of an opponent can occur through understanding his attitudes, goals, motives and views. In this case, an objective assessment of another person is formed, the properties of which do not overlap with the properties of the cognizing subject himself.

On the other hand, in the process of perceiving the interlocutor, not only his understanding, but also his acceptance can occur. In this case, all values and attitudes are shared and agreed upon by people.

When such acceptance occurs, close interpersonal relationships of various levels arise: affection, friendship, love, etc.

Using the perceptual side of communication, we “read” the other person. The success of communication with an individual depends on the degree of accuracy of the conclusions we come to. Incorrect identification of the interlocutor's identity can provoke misunderstanding and conflict.

What is perception

The perspective side of communication or perception in psychology is the process of interaction between people. Based on ordinary communication, understanding and perception of man by man. The term "perception" comes from the Latin perceptio, meaning "perception".

There is another definition of the concept. Perception in psychology is an individual’s reflection at the cognitive level of the objects and phenomena he encounters.

In short, perception means the perception of one person by another, their awareness of each other’s personal qualities. This happens through understanding attitudes, goals, and motives. You are making an objective assessment of your interlocutor, whose qualities are not similar to yours.

Perception manifests itself not only in understanding, but also in acceptance. It turns out that two people share values and beliefs and coordinate them with each other. As a result, friendship, affection, and love develop.

Perception helps to “read” the people around you, to see what they do not say about themselves. If the analysis is performed inaccurately, a conflict situation occurs.

additional literature

Andreev, V.I.
Conflictology: the art of dispute, negotiation and conflict resolution / V. I. Andreev. – Kazan: SKAM, 1992. – P. 81-139.
Bern, E.
Games People Play. Psychology of human relationships. You said hello. What's next? Psychology of human destiny / E. Bern. - Ekaterinburg: LITURE, 2005. - P. 7-53.
Vardanyan, Yu. V.
Psychology of communication: textbook. allowance / Yu. V. Vardanyan, T. V. Savinova. – Saransk, 2003. – P. 15-29.
Cornelius, H.
Everyone can win / H. Cornelius, S. Fair. – M.: Stringer, 1992. – P. 8-210.
Rudensky, E.V.
Fundamentals of psychotechnology of manager communication / E.V. Rudensky. - M.: INFRA-M; Novosibirsk: NGAEiU, 1997. - P. 40-43.

Communication process model

There are several models of the communication process, the most famous of which is Harold Lasswell's concept.

This model originally included five elements, but Lasswell eventually added two more to it, changing the rest slightly. Original model:

Who? (communicator, source of information, that is, the person who transmits information).
What? (message sent by the communicator).
On what channel? (method of transmitting information).
To whom (recipient, recipient - this can be either one interlocutor or a whole audience).
With what effect? (reaction to the message received, assessment of the effectiveness of communication).

Augmented model:

Who? (communicator).
With what intention? (Lasswell considered this question the most important, because without the motives and goals of communication it is impossible to talk about either channels or the target audience - that is, about communication in general).
In what situation? (the situation can be of three types: favorable, neutral, unfavorable).
With what resources? (resources should be understood as the communicator himself, as well as technologies, financial means and methods).
Using what strategy? (Lasswell believed that every communicator should choose a strategy before speaking, and not just leave things to chance).
For what audience? (if you know who your audience or interlocutor is, you can persuade them much more effectively).

Mechanisms

Stereotypy

A stereotype is a shortened version of ideas. Let’s say that if some situation has arisen too often in a person’s life, then, based on the experience gained, in order to save time and resources, when faced with something similar, in advance, anticipating further events, he will give his assessment of what everything threatens or how it will end.

For example, there is a stereotype that handsome men are necessarily womanizers. And then a woman, having met an outwardly very attractive guy, will not trust him. Or, in general, he will not want a relationship with him, despite the fact that interest has arisen. But in fact, he may turn out to be loyal, sincere, and even shy.

Therefore, on the one hand, stereotypes are one-sided and limited, since they do not allow us to recognize reality as it is. But on the other hand, with their help, traditions, foundations and signs are formed. Figuratively speaking, they divide the world into two categories, for example, white and black. Although in fact there are still a lot of other shades, and they are often erroneous, which is why even entire ethnic attitudes arise, directly characterizing the temperamental characteristics of people from different countries.

Let’s say it is generally accepted that Italians are impulsive and energetic, and then, when meeting a silent and apathetic resident of Italy, a person runs the risk of beginning to impose an invented image on him, demanding that he conform to his ideas.

Identification

During communication, no matter how much one would like, a person compares himself with the interlocutor in order to understand the similarities and differences. Accordingly, in this way he learns about his characteristics, capabilities and limitations.

So, in order to find out why another person acted this way and not otherwise, or what he feels and what is happening to him, each of us resorts to such a technique as identification. In simple terms, he puts himself in the place of that person and thinks, what would I do in such a situation and what would happen to me?

Empathy

This is the ability to empathize, to feel a whole range of emotions in relation to other people's life stories and situations. Emotional response allows us to understand what is currently happening in the inner world of the interlocutor. And by the way, it is the sensory zone that specialists often rely on.

Human psychology is such that, due to some circumstances, he “represses” unpleasant feelings, thinking that in this way he gets rid of them. But in fact, they still remain with him, only in the background, and interfere, “freeze”, stop...

So, a specialist, thanks to sensitivity, that is, the experiences that arise in response, can discover that in fact it does not allow the client to fully breathe deeply, feel harmony and joy.

Do you know how intimacy is formed? With the help of empathy, when two people understand what each has had to face in life, if only because they have experienced similar things. For example, someone who has coped with depression will not devalue the condition of someone who is currently trying to “get out”, because he knows how it is. That is why they say that they are understood without words. By the way, be careful, manipulators “catch” their victims precisely by “playing” on their feelings.

Attraction

Subjective perception of a partner is influenced by a good attitude towards him. Have you noticed that it is much easier for you to understand those people to whom you have already formed an attachment? This is how attraction manifests itself: the better the attitude towards someone, the clearer the feeling that he is very familiar, similar, understandable and close, even despite the fact that in reality people may only know each other for a couple of days.

This is where romantic phrases like: “It’s like we’ve known each other all our lives and been together, although in fact we only met today.”

Reflection

One of the mechanisms of self-knowledge, which includes the ability to imagine how one looks in the eyes of the interlocutor and is generally perceived by others. And very often this idea does not correspond to reality, because the person is not able to observe himself from the outside, how he behaves at some moments, how he reacts, and so on.

Has it ever happened that, after listening to a dictaphone recording of your voice, you were dissatisfied with the way it sounded, because you heard it completely differently? Or, after watching the video, were you surprised by the way you move, laugh and talk?

Causal attribution

Explaining the behavior of others, and everyone has their own favorites, thanks to which he interprets the behavior of others. For example, the behavior of colleagues can only be viewed through the prism of resentment, since it is common to think that no one appreciates his efforts.

Attribution can be:

Personal - in case of failure or failure, they always find someone to blame, who could just happen to be nearby and look at it wrong...
Circumstantial - in this case, responsibility is shifted to circumstances and events, even the weather.
Stimulus - the reason for failure lies directly on the object or person with whom the misfortune occurred. Well, for example, they committed violence against a girl - it was her own fault, she should have stayed at home, or there was an accident - she should have been more careful...