Social perception is the ability to create an impression or judgment of individuals or social groups through observing and understanding existing information. It can be influenced by biases, non-verbal communication, and the halo effect, and can greatly determine an individual’s actions.
Social perception is a term in social psychology that defines an individual’s ability to create an impression or judgment of other individuals or social groups. This is formed through observing and understanding existing information about an individual and drawing conclusions from the information. This type of perception is classified under social cognition, the brain’s ability to store and process available information associated with creatures of the same species. Aside from the information available, observers with differing moods and temperaments can account for a variety of perceptions.
Many psychologists and sociologists agree that an individual’s social perception can have some inaccuracies or even be completely wrong. It is inevitable that people have biases, which cause a wrong perception. An example is in-group bias. An individual is more likely to perceive someone in a positive light if he or she is a member of the individual’s group, such as in a family or clique. This favoritism can also be seen among romantic couples, where one partner sees more of his or her partner’s good qualities than the bad ones. Conversely, an individual may be prejudiced against someone who is not affiliated with the group.
Another type of distorted social perception is the halo effect. Usually, people have a tendency to associate positive qualities with physically attractive people, rather than plain or even ugly looking people. Studies have shown that children react more to pictures of beautiful women, staring at them longer, than to pictures of less attractive women. The halo effect may also explain why many people have judged and misunderstood subcultures as rebellious, antisocial, and even disruptive.
Social perception can also be influenced by non-verbal communication. In a process called joint attention, a person may prompt his or her partner to judge an object or another person simply by looking and pointing. A person’s smile or smirk at a subject can greatly influence another person’s opinion, positive or negative. Social perception is how an individual brings order to his or her environment.
Perceiving a person or object as such can greatly determine the individual’s actions. A dark alley, for example, will always be seen as a dangerous part of the road and will almost always be avoided. Tourists who need direction will most likely approach a person who seems friendly or is already smiling. In a sense, social perception helps an individual decide on an action that will ensure his improvement or survival.
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