Homework Clinic
Social Science Clinic => Business => Communications => Topic started by: Marty on Jan 21, 2021
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Question 1
Discuss the difference(s) between the halo effect and the horn effect.
Question 2
Dr. Smith finds that one of his colleagues, Dr. Tompkins, is difficult to deal with professionally. However, once you get Dr. Tompkins away from the office, he can be one of the nicest and most caring people you would want to know. Dr. Smith decides that while Dr. Tompkins can be difficult to work with, he is still an admirable man. Which process of perceptual organization and interpretation (impression formation, implicit personality theory, attribution theory, or use of personal constructs) did Dr. Smith most likely employ in arriving at this conclusion? Justify your response.
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Answer 1
- A halo effect is created when we attribute a variety of positive qualities to a person we like without personally confirming the existence of these qualities.
- Conversely, with the horn effect, we might decide that a person we don't like is selfish or stingy and we attribute a variety of negative qualities to that individual, using implicit personality theory.
Answer 2
- More than one answer can be generated for this question. The emphasis should be on justifying the student's choice. The answer should explain each concept and then apply each concept to the situation to justify the use of one or more of the processes.
* Impression formation involves the process of categorizing people based upon general physical qualities, behaviors, and disclosed information. These perceptions then affect our subsequent interpretations of their behavior.
# While impression formation is often thought of in terms of first impressions, we can form and reform impressions at other times.
* Implicit personality theory involves the use of patterns of qualities we attribute to people so as to increase our understanding and ability to predict their behavior. These theories are essentially stereotypes that we use to fill in the blanks of another's personality. These theories can affect our interpretations positively or negatively.
* The use of personal constructs allows us to organize our perceptions of specific people. Constructs are bipolar qualities that help us differentiate one person from another.
* Attribution theory seeks to develop explanations for another person's behavior. We may seek to determine the intention of the person in causing the effect or we may seek to determine the causes (causal attribution theory) for another person's behavior based upon circumstance, a stimulus, or the person herself or himself.
- In this case, there is no indication that Dr. Smith is trying to discover or explain the causes or intentionality of Dr. Tompkins's behavior, so attribution theory does not seem to be directly applicable.
- Implicit personality theory allows us to fill out a person's personality by association with pre-existing patterns of associated qualities. While Dr. Smith may have employed an implicit personality theory, there is no indication that he is "filling out" Dr. Tompkins' personality. In fact, the case suggests that Dr. Smith's implicit personality theories may be challenged by the complexity of Dr. Tompkins' behavior. Dr. Tompkins is not easily categorized.
- While Dr. Smith seems to be engaged in a process of reforming his impression of Dr. Tompkins, the process of differentiating between Dr. Tompkins's actions in a professional setting and in a social setting suggests the application of cognitive constructs.
- Student examples will vary.
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