Introduction
Interpersonal effectiveness can be defined as the skillful interaction of persons with each other. This enables them to live harmoniously despite any differences, communicate properly, and understand each other.
Individual and cultural influences that affect one’s perceptions the most
Perception is the intake of information from our surroundings and the corresponding interpretation of that information. We perceive through our senses. Consequently, what is perceived determines how one responds. This is through actions.
There are a number of factors that affect the way we view our environment. Among them are cultural influences. These include social interactions that one has experienced, e.g., people who have interacted with others who consider snails as a food delicacy will also treat it as such. Peer influences also bring about a difference in perception; this is because what is perceived as the norm in a particular group may not be the case in another peer group. For example, in some societies, young people can dress in an ‘creative’ manner, while in other peer circles, one must conform to a specific dress code and will be perceived differently if they do not. In modern times media plays a great role in telling us what is and what is not. Lastly, education or knowledge modifies our perceptions a great deal. If an uneducated person was given a page to read, he would simply view it as a piece of paper; in contrast, an educated person would see it as a source of information.
Individual influences that affect perception include upbringing – this means that whoever brought up someone teaches them how to interpret their environment. In addition to this is an individual’s experiences – some people have undergone experiences that cause ambiguity in their perceptions. A person’s health is also another factor; this could be a physical deformity like blindness or a mental state that will cause a change in what one understands or interprets. Lastly, one’s psychological state matters too, e.g., if someone has just received information about a dead relative, then they might not identify a car beside them when crossing a road.
Weaknesses in perceptual processes
Perceptual processes are subject to ambiguity. This is because what one interprets may not necessarily be the facts on the ground. If an ambiguity occurs, then it may bring about an inappropriate response hence causing a negative change. For example, if a messenger presents himself to a when stranger shabbily dressed, the stranger may assume he is a thief and will send him away without receiving the information that was meant to be delivered to him. Ambiguity may also lead the wrong interpreter to danger.
How to improve one’s perceptual process
Learning is one of the major ways to improve one’s perceptual process. This works by reducing a bias that is brought by a lack of knowledge. Knowledge encourages individuals to be more insightful when presented with a circumstance.
One can try to interact more with people from separate cultures as his/hers. This enables one to understand and appreciate diversity without labeling other’s actions as wrong or unacceptable just because those actions are not found in his/her culture.
Individuals can also improve their perceptual processes by exercising personal control of their minds. One can practice being mentally ‘in tuned’ to his/her environment at most, if not all the time. This will help them to look at a situation dynamically and not as an isolated incident.
How people receive stimuli can be improved by taking care of their health. Some activities include eating well and exercising. This will keep their senses alert and improve their perceptions.
References
James, J. (1966): The Senses Considered as Perceptual Systems: Boston Publishers
Robles-De-La-Torre, G. (2006): The Importance of the Sense of Touch in Virtual and Real Environments: A journal on Haptic User Interfaces for Multimedia Systems