Assignment

Recall an experience at work when your perceptions (or someone else's perceptions) were later found to be distorted. The following factors distort our perceptions:

a. Stereotypes - Assign attributes to a group of people
b. Halo effect - Uses one attribute to develop an overall impression of a person or situation
c. Selective perception - Defines problems from one's own point of view
d. Projection - Assigns personal attributes to others
e. Contrast effects - Derive meaning by contrasting it to another recent occurrence
f. Self-fulfilling prophecies - Predetermining a situation based on individual experiences

With your recalled experience in mind, and given what you've learned about differences and perceptions this week, compose a response that addresses the following points:

• Which one of the listed distortion factors most contributed to your situation?
• What could you have done differently?