Perception checking

Type of paperEssay (Any Type)
SubjectCommunication Strategies
Number of pages3

Writer levelUniversity
Format of citationMLA
Number of cited resources0

The concept is perception checking. The first paragraph is what you think perception checking is. Then apply it, via examples, to your personal life by briefly explaining how perception checking influenced the interpersonal experiences you’ve chosen to enumerate.

Perception checking is a universal yet an individual interpretation of things and occurrences. It is a good tool that helps check the understanding we have on others instead of jumping to conclusions so quickly. It helps us get the right interpretation of statements and situations. Using this strategy, one can avoid the many defensive arguments that come our way when statements are made. It is a process that human beings attend to organize, select, interpret and remember when interpreting information. We will, therefore, discuss the concept of perception checking in this article.

Each person has a perception that might be similar or different from the others. It is mostly similar to people who share something in common such as people from a certain team or family members. Although each person might have a unique way on the way they perceive the world, there might be similarities here and there though not in everything. At times, it is, however, clear to know what a person might want to mean when they say something. It is, however, difficult to know how they perceive all the same but we giving it a try is the best option. This is what necessitates seeking clarification since we are social beings and we have to understand each other for efficient communication and mutual understanding.

Through perception checking, we give other people the opportunity to understand our experiences and why we perceive things the way we do under almost similar stimuli. We describe our feelings and interpretations and give people an opportunity to correct us as well. In this, they help us understand what they think about something or at times just validate our perceptions as being right.

According to some scholars, perception checking is nothing to do with opinion but a way to show others live by telling them we understand what they think about us or what they try to portray. It is simply checking to understand what is said by someone else. It just shows that one truly understands the one portraying a certain information. It is also considered as a way of showing respect to others. It works as a relation builder. It builds confidence to the listener since they know that the lone listening understands what they feel. It enhances the skill to listen more deeply and keenly and helps one get the meaning being portrayed behind the speaker’s message.

Perception checking has helped me be the person I am. I believe it has made the character I possess right now and the way people see me. I have learned not to draw conclusions too quickly when someone does something. They might have intended to bring out a different meaning from what we might get. The same applies to getting what a person says without having a misinterpretation. At times, I get home in very good moods but on my way, I might bump into friends or classmates. We exchange stories and experiences about the day and share jokes. But it is not always that the friends tend to be warm and welcoming. At times, they might turn a cold shoulder to me. When I ask them what’s wrong, they might say, “It’s nothing, maybe you are the one who is wrong since you always tend to ask what is wrong all the time.” All the same, the statement might sound rude to someone else but to me, I opt to treat it as a polite way of passing a message that the friend might be angry with me or something.

I might respond to them by saying, “you always say that whenever I ask you what’s wrong, but I feel, you are turning a cold shoulder to me. I am just wondering if it is because I got home later than I told you I would be or might be something entirely different. Why don’t you please tell me what’s up?”.

By using this kind response, I mean to show the friend that I understand that I might be the cause of his anger.it saves on both sides since I get to know what I have done wrong and apologize while on the other hand I get to understand the cause of the problem and what my friend feels about the same. This approach might not be the same across every friend I have but applies to many of them

At other times, a friend might come to me complaining “I swear you don’t ever listen to me, I bet all you have are selfish thoughts”. First of all, I have to look at the way the person I s behaving when saying those words. Are they arrogant, bored or annoyed? I try to ask myself why they are saying what they are saying. Is it because they have had a bad day? Or are they simply mad at me? The next thing I always consider is the one saying that. Are they close friend’s relatives or just classmates. The next thing I do is a request for clarification. For example, I might ask a question such as, “what’s going on?” by observing all these I believe I create a comfortable climate for us to resolve any problem or differences that might arise. It helps make informed decisions and the choice of words I direct to them.

Perception checking has enabled me to lead healthy relationships with my friends and family. It has helped me choose wisely on the interpersonal skills to apply in different experiences. It has helped me not jump to conclusions and maybe bring a misunderstanding. It has proved to be a unique way of approaching people in a sensitive way. It is a good and healthy way of dealing with someone who is mad at me without causing drama or tensions. It has made my life simpler, trust me!