Discussion #4 is in 2 parts and asks you to write thoughtful substantive comments, using your own words and your own ideas, related to concepts in Ch. 3 and Module #3 on Perception and Communication. In order to earn full points for Discussion #4, you will need to complete both parts of the Discussion according to the following guidelines:

Part 1: Identify which of the prompts below you are responding to and write a thoughtful substantial paragraph, in which you both express your own ideas and explicitly incorporate course concepts and terms within the context of what we’re studying; and

Part 2: Select a discussion by another student who wrote in response to a different prompt from the one you chose. Write a shorter paragraph that comments on points the other student made that you find interesting, relate to, agree/disagree with, etc. Please also consider responding to a student who has not yet received a response from anyone else, so, ideally, everyone in the class receives a response.

Respond to one of the prompts below for your main post:

1) How do such values in Western culture as Productivity, Individualism, Speed, Youth, and Wealth affect your everyday perceptions of other individuals? OR: If you are from a non-western culture, how do a few values of your culture of origin affect your everyday perceptions? Identify and define 1 or 2 cultural values, and discuss ways you are aware that these cultural values tend to influence and affect how you perceive and interpret others.

2) Which type of Schemata do you tend to use in organizing your perceptions of people and experiences? Do you, for instance, have one or more Personal Constructs (e. g. friendly or unfriendly) that you use to “measure” others? Or do you perhaps have a Prototype of an ideal person, relationship, or situation that influences your perceptions? Or a Stereotype that you tend to apply to some persons or situations? Describe and discuss with specific details and examples one of the types of Schemata you use to perceive, interpret, and understand people and situations.

3) Which are a couple of the Self-Maintenance Strategies that you tend to use the most, and why do you think you use those specific strategies? Identify and explain the meaning of each strategy, and discuss how you typically use it in either negatively reacting or positively responding to others when you feel challenged or threatened in some way. If you tend to react, or to use the strategy as a defense mechanism, how could you learn to respond instead, rather than react, in those kinds of interactions?

4) Which of the Guidelines for Improving Perception and Communication could you practice in order to improve your perceptions of others and thus increase the quality of your interpersonal interactions? Identify and explain the Guideline(s) you relate to, and discuss specifically how you could apply it to improving your perceptions and communication.