^{How We
Interpret Other People}

Introduction

It might seem that the way that we perceive, understand, value and treat other people is a ‘simple’ affair- we just do it. This couldn’t be more wrong.

Our perception of other people is not just due to our senses giving us information and our rationality interpreting it. The whole make-up of each person as an individual will affect how that person interprets outside stimuli. Different people will interpret the same stimuli in differing ways.

People will be interpreted differently according to many variations- whether such people have been met before, what company they are in, what their physical and social surroundings are, how we feel about people who look or act like them. The list goes on.

This section deals with the complexities of interpretation of people.

The Psychology of Perception

Top Down, Bottom Up

The idea referred to above that simple perceptions lead to simple interpretations dependent only on the senses and rationality of the individual might be called a bottom-up perceptual model. Simple, raw stimuli are rationalised and the result is a simple perception.

Another model is that the person has within their brain certain schemas that greatly affect the way that simple stimuli are interpreted. In this model past experiences affect what is seen, heard and felt. Simple stimuli are modelled around previous experiences and beliefs.

The Effect of Emotions

A simple psychology might imply that perception is entirely a rational process. A more complex approach would show that human perception is highly determined by emotional states.

The Effect of Physical and Social Surroundings

A simple psychology might imply that perception of an object or person is possible without interference from the perception of the physical and social surroundings of that object or person. A more complex approach would show that such transference of perceptions of the surroundings to the object of attention is highly important.

Four Filter Model

Wolfensberger suggests a Four Filter Model of Perception:

Personality, Physical Environment, Social Environment, Factual Matters Observed.

Filter 1 (Personality):

Observer’s own characteristics and experiences that shape the person’s personality and likelihood of reacting generally in a particular way. This includes previous contacts with people seen as like the observed (stereotyping)

Filter 2 (Physical Environment):

Characteristics of Observer’s Physical Environment; e.g.: deprivation, stress, comfort, architecture.

Filter 3 (Social Environment):

Characteristics of Observer’s Social Environment; e.g.: values, expectations, norms, conventions, myths, whether true or false.

Filter 4 (Factual Matters Observed):

What is actually observed (i.e. The Observed’s appearance - red hair, behaviour)

These four filters stand between the Observer and the Observed so that direct or reflective perception of roles are difficult.

Understanding The Four Filter Model

Interpreting the above is important to understand role theory as it is used in SRV. If a person encounters someone in a certain situation, then many perceptions and cognitions will be received by the perceiver; these may be directly and purposefully emitted by the observed person, or may be unconsciously and accidentally emitted. Those of the second category may cause unconscious role attribution. The observer will usually convey information back to the persons observed, and also to witnesses. What will be conveyed back will be expectations, demands, permission or licence, to behave in a certain manner congruent to the role ascribed. This then becomes a feedback loop. The observer assesses the whole situation surrounding the observed, makes extended and generalised role ascriptions and then encourages (consciously or unconsciously) the observed to continue to act in a manner suitable to the role ascribed. The observer is effectively saying ‘I perceive that you are in the role of ‘Z’, everyone knows that ‘Z’s act in this manner, therefore I expect and encourage you to act like a ‘Z’.

The observed will then tend to act as expected, and this will confirm the observer’s suspicions. Unless strongly counteracting feedback is received, expectancies will tend to be confirmed. Even if the feedback is ambiguous, this will still not counteract this effect.

Characteristics of the Observer

People as observers bring their personality to this task. Past experiences shape this personality and the personality will affect what is really perceived by that person.

For instance, prior contact with people similar to the observed person will affect, positively or negatively, the way that such a person is perceived. If the observer already holds strong views (consciously or unconsciously) about such people, this will affect the way the person is perceived.

Characteristics of the Physical Environment

People being observed will be so observed as part of the physical surroundings. A person with the stigmata of Downs Syndrome will be perceived in one way if they are in a normal work environment and differently if they are in a day centre. If an environment is seen to be distressed, the perception of people in that environment will be different from that which would occur if the physical surroundings were less distressed.

Characteristics of the Social Environment

People being observed will be so observed as part of their social group. Images will transfer from other people in the group and will affect the perception of the observed individual.

What is Actually Observed

This is the ‘simple’ ‘facts’ of what is observed- and even this is not as simple as it seems as all perception is to s degree ‘Top-Down’- affected by the personality of any observer. However, it is usually possible to reach a social consensus about what the ‘actual facts’ are for any given society.

Summary of Interpretation

It might seem initially that interpretation is a simple process- just a rational calculus of the facts. However, deeper analysis shows that emotion, imagery, surroundings, other people, personality etc. all affect Interpretation, making it a complex and multi-factorial process.

The Charade of Interpretation

We are going to play Charades!

Pass a piece of paper around, folding it as usual for Charades, and list the following:

A Type of Person or an Actual Person

What they are Wearing

What they are Doing

Where they are Doing It

In what Manner are they doing it (Businesslike, Party-like etc.)

Who they are Accompanied By