Multiple Perspectives in Person Perception and Theorizing

Abstract

The theoretical kernel of this treatment of person perception is the perceiver's use of multiple perspectives, which entails acknowledging others' states, motives and perceptions, and which involves recognizing several different points of view. Active contact in heterogeneous social contexts is viewed as basic to employing multiple perspectives. This openness stands to be diminished by strong individual need states, which inhibit the acknowledgement of disparate perspectives in person perception; consistency and concreteness then come to dominate, both in person perception generally and in psychological thinking.