“Never judge a book by its cover” we have all heard this saying, but what makes us judge a book by its cover? This is what psychologists have studied since the 1940’s; they call this Implicit Personality Theory. With one piece of information about someone, we imagine other details about them. The theory that we individually form impressions is still being studied today. Implicit Personality Theory is suggests we fill in blanks when identifying characteristics of people, using a few characteristics to draw inferences about others (West, Turner, 2011). It describes the specific patterns an individual uses when forming impressions based on a limited amount of information about an unfamiliar person. The word implicit essentially means automatic. …show more content…
Consistency refers to the way newly formed impressions relate to what is already known about the other person (Felipe, A.I. 1970). There are two dimensions of consistency, evaluative, and descriptive. Evaluative consistency suggests we will match an overall impression of the person with traits that have already been established. If we notice a person is very witty, and we’ve already established a great relationship with someone who is also witty, we are more likely to assume the person has other positive traits. Likewise, if we come into contact with who has unfavorable traits, such as constantly lying to make themselves more interesting, we are likely to assume the person has numerous other bad traits. Descriptive theory is like evaluative theory, the difference is that we hear descriptive personality traits about someone and make our assumptions from there. We don’t even have to come into any physical contact with someone and we assume different aspects of their personality. When someone tells you someone is very pretty, one might assume she is very popular as well, that is descriptive …show more content…
Many factors make up the theory, and although there is a lot of information on it, many psychologists are still studying it today. We all form impressions differently which makes human interacting so interesting. Different traits, central, peripheral, and effect of observer traits play a big part in forming an impression. Central traits refer to who we are deep down, while peripheral traits refer to who we are sometimes. Peripheral traits stuck out to me because we tend to remember those traits of any other traits other people possess. It’s important to remember to never judge a book by its cover. We obviously have a tendency to make judgments with limited information and learning more about how and why we do this was very interesting to me. The girl who is quiet in class may not be who we think she is, she might not be that girl who thinks she’s too good to participate, she may have severe anxiety and every time she wants to speak her anxiety stops her from doing so. It’s important to slowly form impressions, although we automatically do this, we should be more aware and open-minded when meeting new
Assumptions influence our perceptions because when assumptions are made, it is often the case that there is not enough information for the assumptions to be accurate. Dillard gives an example that relates to this in her essay when she says, “[We] see what [we] expect” (Dillard 20). When an assumption is formed about a person or situation, then things that agree with that assumption is what is looked for, so that is what will be perceived. This may create inaccurate impressions. Another problem with making assumptions is that it is assumed that there is consistency to others’ behavior and often the focus on negative things about others. When it is assumed that there is consistency to others’ behavior, it is assumed that after seeing them act one way once or twice, they will always act like that. (Beebe 77). These examples relate to another idea that Dillard talks about in her essay. Dillard says, “Peeping through my keyhole I see within the range of only about thirty percent of light that comes from the sun…” (21). This agrees with an idea that people tend to ignore information when making perceptions and only looking at a small portion of the big picture and make perceptions based off of that. An example that relates to all of these would be if someone expects a person to be rude, then whenever those two people interact, rude behavior will be all that is looked for and all that is given any thought. People often form perceptions off of assumptions and small pieces of the big picture which oftentimes makes those perceptions that a person might have
First impressions are usually lasting impressions. Within the first thirty seconds, without any conscious effort, an image or opinion is formed influenced by cues perceived by our sensory organs. Though sometimes misleading, first impressions can be an accurate representation of a person, and once formed very difficult to change. Ability to assess at such a rate exhibits the involvement of the senses working together and the complexity each one may contribute. The role of Olfaction is studied (Sorokowska, 2013) in relation to accurately identifying first impression personality traits based solely on body odor.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Personality is characterized by many dimensions of a person’s overall being. The belief that personality stems from one origin is small minded and on many levels, unsupported. If the scope of personality is expanded, it suggests that there is not a single explanation determining a person’s personality and how it is formed. Personality Theories have been generated for centuries by individuals who desire to identify what distinguishes a person’s personality and how it affects their behaviors. What is it that comprises all the unique characteristics about a person?
Human beings inherently utilise these cognitive structures in order to make immediate inferences about personality. In the 2000 study, Vrugt and Luyerink found that individuals had incorporated certain postural positions within their schematic structures for men and women, and could draw upon these to make inferences about personality and occupation. Females who posed conservatively were deemed more feminine, whilst male who sat less conservatively were deemed more masculine. Similarly, Hack (2014) ascertained that particular facial expressions had been cognitively assigned to either gender. Whereby, via the mechanism of stereotyping, the smiling females were perceived to be more likeable, communal beings, in comparison to the presented smiling male faces. Not dissimilarly, Lindwall and Ginis (2008) found that stereotypical traits existed for males who exercised regularly and those who did not. Based appearance alone, male exercisers were considered to be happy, sociable, hard working, confident and well disciplined. Furthermore, Juodvallkis et al (2003) explored the consequences of stereotyping behaviour in the job screening process. In relation to impression formation, those who displayed a gender appropriate style of communication were deemed to be more appropriate for the position than those who did not. Lastly, Okimoto (2012) extended this line of research and focused on the stereotyping
For example, working in a surgical ward, a nurse was discussing with other colleagues about a certain patient who was in the holding bay, talking negatively about her lifestyle choices, when approaching the patient for the first time when arriving into the suite, she refused treatment from any of the nurse staff on the shift as she was upset at the things the nurse had said. First impressions influence people’s judgments of others and their willingness to engage in any further communication (Boc and Franklin, 2013).... ... middle of paper ... ...
In its most basic form, personality is what defines a person through their “…expression of emotions, relationship building, and their individual patterns of behavior…” (CITE). Two of the most prolific theories on the formation of personality were developed by neurologist Sigmund Freud and psychologist Carl Rogers. Both Freud and Rogers worked in psychotherapy, the area of therapy, which “…focuses on fostering a positive mental well-being…” (CITE). These men based their general theories of personality on their experiences with patients, however their conclusions are worlds apart. Rogers is recognized for his approach to therapy where the “…client…” has a more direct role in the process (CITE). Whereas Freud is best known for his work on the unconscious mind.
First impressions are created by a composite of signals given off by a new experience (Flora, 2004). The judgment of these impressions depends on the observer and the person being observed (Flora, 2004). When you meet someone for the first time it takes about three seconds to be evaluated by the observer (Mind Tools, 1996-2011,). During this time the person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, and how you dress (Mind Tools, 2996-2011,). Impressions are important to us because they are impossible to be reserved and the set the tone for all the relationships that follow (Mind Tools, 1996-2011).
“the implicit personality theory; a subject’s assumption about how the trait of other persons are related to each other” at the same time as the two researchers, Cronbach (1955) used the term to describe a subjects assumption about the mean and variance of other people on a certain trait and the covariance between that trait and other traits in a person.
Personality-This are characteristically patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that makes a person to be unique from other individuals. It mainly consists of who you are, who you have been and what you will become. There are a number of different theories that have emerged to explain different aspects of personality. Some focus on explaining how personality develops while others focus on individual differences in personality. According to Freud, the mind is divided into the conscious mind which is composed of all things we are aware of and the unconscious mind which has things we are not aware of. He also goes on and divides the human personality into: the identity, Ago and the superego. He terms the Identity as the most primitive part and it’s the source of all the basic wants. It is generally unconscious and hence serves as the main source of libidinal energy. Ego component focuses on reality matters and ensures satisfaction of the identity in a realistic manner that is safe and socially accepted. The superego component holds internalized behavior and standards we learn from the surrounding environment like our parents and society. Freud came up with four stages of psychosexuality: Oral, Anal, Phallic and Genital. At each stage different parts of the body are able to produce pleasure hence they serve as the main source of pleasure, frustration and self-expression. If at all a conflict remains unresolved at any particular stage, the individual might remain fixated at that particular point of development. A fixation can involve an overdependence or obsession with something related to that phase of development. When a person is considered to have oral fixation is one who stuck in the oral stage of development him/her posse’s...
Impression management is a social phenomenon that occurs in our daily life both consciously and unconsciously. “It is the act of presenting a favorable public image of oneself so that others will form positive judgments.” (Newman 184) Our first impressions of a person are always based on physical appearance and we compare them to the norms of our society. We can all admit to the initial meeting of a person and first noticing their age, gender, race, or other ascribed characteristics. Our cultural norms are ideas such that fat is “ugly” which are very different across societies and time. Also, impression management is an idea of how individuals interact in different social situations. “Sociologists refer to dramaturgy as the study of social interactions as theater, in which people (“actors”) project images (“play roles”) in front of others (“the audience”).” (Newman 169) This is our human need for acceptance and way of managing the impressions we give others and perform what we think people want to see. Our social life is governed by this concept but it only works with effective front-stage and back-stage separation. Our front-stage is the visible part of ourselves that we allow others to see unlike our hidden back-stage self.
The study of personality traits is beneficial in identifying the many variables that exist from human to human; the combinations of these variables provide us with a true level of individuality and uniqueness. In the field of psychology, trait theory is considered to be a key approach to the study of human personality (Crowne, 2007; Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2009). This paper aims to identify a number of significant contributors who have played crucial roles in both the development and application of trait theory. This paper then moves focus to these theorists, outlining their theory and analysing both the strengths and weaknesses of those theories. An illustration of the methods used in trait measurement is given and includes the arguments both for and against such procedures. Lastly the findings of trait theory and its components described within the paper will be summarised.
The beauty halo effect has become a strong phenomenon in social psychology nowadays. The beauty halo effect can also be called “the physical attractiveness” stereotype and the “what is beautiful is good” principle (Lewis-Beck, Bryman and Liao, 2004). The halo effect makes reference to the tendency of people to better rate attractive people for their personality traits than the individuals that are qualified less attractive (Lewis-Beck, Bryman and Liao, 2004). The psychologist Edward Thorndike first wrote about the halo effect phenomenon in his paper The Constant Error in Psychological Ratings in 1920. He noticed in his work that “ratings were apparently affected by the tendency to think of a person in general as rather good or rather inferior and to color the judgments of the qualities by this general feelings” (Lachman and Bass, 2001). The halo effects explain the fact that early aspects influence the interpretation of later aspects (Forgas, 2011). Since the first definition of the halo effects made by Thorndike in 1920, this concept has been the subject...
Based on the information provided in the textbook, trait theory states that every individual has different personalities due to the traits inherited by their maternal or paternal DNA. For instance, if a child or a grown adult is shy or talkative one is able to observe the person’s conscious thoughts and behaviors; therefore, one can imply that traits are essential when it applies to an individual’s personality, which is why everyone’s personality is different. Foreign psychologist Hans Eysenck and Sybil Eysenck, designed a chart full of different qualities to identify the various types of personalities. Indeed, these categories indicate whether the person is considered extraversion, stable, introversion, and unstable. For example, a person that is considered introverted-stable is considered to be peaceful, caring, and calm. On the other hand, a person who is extraverted stable is seen as someone who is ...
Perception of ourselves can influence how we can communicate with other people; this can either be a positive or negative thing. Also, how the other person view himself or herself; this means that in communication between two persons the second person may see himself or herself more voluble, soft-spoken and respectful more than the other person. After that, how the other person views you; this can show how the receiver of a message sees the sender. This means, he or she may have bad or good impression about the sender of the message. For example, a receiver of a message may view a sender as being tough, in his or her choice of words and fanatic in speech. However, sometimes I feel shy to talk to people and start to communicate with them because
With regards to human behavior, studies show that social perceptions are formed as a mixture of experience and expectations of how a individuals defining physical or overriding characteristics will impact how we imagine that person to be for instance through their ethnicity, nationality, religion, class or if they are living with a disability. These assumptions are often deep-rooted and formed in childhood.