Q M2 PAT: Using Perception to Understand Self and Others [60 minutes] • Due No Due Date • Points 15 • Submitting a text entry box or a file upload Show your understanding of the perceptual barriers of self and others, as well as the perception checking process by completing this PAT. (15 points total) To complete this PAT, open the attached document and read the directions, as well as the scoring rubric. View the student sample in the PAT, too. When you are ready to submit your assignment, browse your computer for your saved document, attach it, and click on "Submit Assignment." (Or, you may use the Text Entry box to type and submit your work.) Directions: Step 1: Type one paragraph using first-person voice (a.k.a., point of view) discussing how the following barriers to a more accurate perception of YOURSELF recently played a role in YOUR perceptions? (5 points): • Self-serving bias • Self-fulfilling prophecy Step 2: Type one paragraph using first-person voice (a.k.a., point of view) discussing how at least two of the following barriers to a more accurate perception of OTHERS recently played a role in YOUR perceptions? (5 points) • First impressions • Stereotyping • Fundamental attribution error • Projection . Step 3: Because our perceptions of others are often inaccurate, we should check our perceptions for accuracy. Therefore, please type two more paragraphs where you: 1) Describe a situation in YOUR life when YOU weren’t sure how to perceive someone’s behavior. This may be a situation that occurred on the job, at home, spending time with a friend, or another situation of your choosing. This may also be something that occurred in the past, currently happened, or something that will happen in the future. 2) Provide the specific dialogue you either would have used, used, or will use to check your perceptions while demonstrating the three steps of the Perception Checking Process (listed below) (5 points): The Perception Checking Process: Step 1: Describe (in an open and non-accusatory manner) the specific behavior you observed. Step 2: Identify at least two possible interpretations for the behavior. Step 3: Ask the other person to verify or correct your interpretations. Evaluator(s) Instructor Target Course Competencies 1. Evaluate how perception affects communication • Evaluate how perception affects communication • Evaluate how self-concept impacts communication Rating Scale Value Description 5 The paragraphs contain little to no writing errors and show exemplary understanding of perceptual barriers and/or the perception checking process. 4 The paragraphs contain few writing errors and show a clear understanding of perceptual barriers and/or the perception checking process. 3 The paragraphs contain few writing errors and show a basic understanding of perceptual barriers and/or the perception checking process. 2 The paragraph contains numerous writing errors and incomplete information. 1 The paragraph contains numerous writing errors and inaccurate information. 0 Assignment was not completed. Scoring Guide Criteria Ratings 1 The student accurately and completely discussed perceptual barriers of self in paragraph format. The paragraph is typed and well-organized. 5 4 3 2 1 0 2 The student accurately and completely discussed perceptual barriers of others in paragraph format. The paragraph is typed and well-organized. 5 4 3 2 1 0 3 The student provided a personal scenario and accurately demonstrated all three steps in the perception checking process for that scenario. The paragraphs are typed and well-organized. 5 4 3 2 1 0 Student Sample of PAT: Using Perception to Understand Self and Others Although there are several barriers to an accurate self-concept, there are two in particular that I often struggle with: self-fulfilling prophecy and self-serving bias. For example, I trained for the Twin Cities Marathon for 16 weeks this past summer, and while training was going well I kept thinking the whole time that I wouldn’t achieve my goal of a sub-four-hour finishing time. In reflecting on my race days later, I can see how I engaged in behaviors and thoughts during the race that caused me, as predicted, to finish the marathon in over four hours. Today, I wonder what my finish time could have been if I hadn’t engaged in the self-fulfilling prophecy. This same event can provide an example of another barrier to an accurate self-concept that I often struggle with, which is the self-serving bias. My good friend trained all summer with me, and she had a great race; in fact, she finished the marathon in 3:51. Immediately after the race, I blamed my poor performance on my severe back pain and upset stomach, and while these were real challenges I faced in the race, I can now see how the self-serving bias did not make me first explain my performance on internal, personal characteristics/thoughts; instead, the self-serving biased caused me to first explain my poor performance on external, situational forces. Knowing what I know now about barriers to an accurate self-concept, I wonder how much better I can perform on race days with more accurate perceptions of myself before, during, and after races. There are also several barriers that get in my way of having accurate perceptions of others. One of those barriers is first impressions. For example, my new boss last year was short with his words and matter-of-fact, and since I am a talkative person I assumed we would not work well with each other. Although my new boss eventually “warmed up to me,” I still cling to my first impression and assume we are too different to have a more friendly working relationship. Another barrier, projection, may have gotten in my way the other night when my friend and I were texting each other. I thought her quick and short “ok” reply to my text was inconsiderate and “snotty.” I was expecting a more friendly, lengthy, and happy response, probably because that’s how I would have responded if the roles were reversed; however, I can now see how I was projecting my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors on to her, and I need to remember that we all respond differently to texts or perhaps she was just busy and couldn’t take the time at that moment to send a longer text. Since there will always be perceptual barriers, I need to use the skill of perception checking to determine whether my perceptions, especially of others, are accurate or not. Just yesterday, for example, my husband came home from work without saying “Hi” to me as he usually does. In fact, he proceeded to head out to the garage. When I followed him to the garage and said “Hi” again, he still did not say a word to me. At first I was upset and thought he was just being a big grump. Maybe he had a bad day at work. I also wondered if he was mad at me for some reason or perhaps didn’t hear me at all. Using the perception checking process, I walked up beside him and said the following: “You didn’t say anything to me when you got home and, instead, left the house and headed straight to the garage [Description of behavior]. I’m wondering if something happened at work today or if I did something to make you mad [Two possible interpretations of the behavior]. Is everything okay? [Request for clarification]” He responded with an apology and explained that he had just received a text message from a co-worker asking about a specific cutout, so he was going over it in his head and wanted to try it out in the garage before he responded to the text. Using the perception checking process allowed me to tread lightly just in case he was mad at me, and it also allowed me to keep an open mind about other reasons for his behavior. In turn, the perception checking process allowed us to have and show empathy for each other; I’m excited to continue using the process in my day-to-day interactions with others. M2 PAT - Using Perception to Understand Self and Others M2 PAT - Using Perception to Understand Self and Others Criteria Ratings Pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe student accurately and completely discussed perceptual barriers of self in paragraph format. The paragraph is typed and well-organized. 5 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks 5 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe student accurately and completely discussed perceptual barriers of others in paragraph format. The paragraph is typed and well-organized. 5 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks 5 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThe student provided a personal scenario and accurately demonstrated all three steps in the perception checking process for that scenario. These steps are discussed in two paragraphs, and the paragraphs are typed and well-organized. 5 pts Full Marks 0 pts No Marks 5 pts Total Points: 15