UNITAR, Tierra Crest

Jalan SS6/3, Kelana Jaya

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan

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STUDENT DETAILS

SEMESTER : SEPTEMBER 2023

NAME MATRIC NUMBER
NICOLE VANGIE THIEN WEN YING MC211015479
REGINA BERACHAH ANZELLETHA A/P RAMASAMY UNU2200674
SHARNI A/P BALAMURUGAN MC211015414

ASSIGNMENT DETAILS

COURSE CODE/TITLE : PSYCHOSOCIOLOGY FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE (ESSB2153)

ASSIGNMENT TITLE : GROUP ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATE : WEEK 8
LECTURER : DR. VOLTISA THARTORI
TABLE OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

RESULTS

EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS

SOLUTIONS

CONCLUSION

REFERENCE

1.
INTRODUCTION

Social perception is the ability to make appropriate interpretations and deductions about
another individual based on their general physical appearance, verbal, and nonverbal
communication patterns. People with greater degrees of social perception pick up on things like
facial expressions, tone of voice, hand, or body gestures to figure out what other people are
thinking, feeling, or what most likely they would do next. (Aronson and colleagues, 2010)

On the other hand, negative opinions of others, frequently fueled by preconceptions,

prejudices, and prejudice, have long been a societal problem. Individuals and societies can be
profoundly affected by these perceptions, leading to prejudice, inequality, and social instability.
The purpose of conducting this survey is to investigate the effects of unfavorable impressions
and to provide solutions to this critical issue.
RESULTS

We have retrieved data from 33 participants, where 19 of them were females and 13
males, and they were all below the age of 30. Most of them were students pursuing a bachelor's
degree. Our survey consists of 10 multiple choice questions and 4 short answers. Moving on,
when asked if our respondents form a negative perception towards people that they are meeting
for the first time, 10 of them agreed, 11 denied and around 12 respondents were neutral. This
reflects that there is a high possibility for people to perceive others negatively unconsciously.
Despite that, the majority of them have changed their thoughts about people they have known for
a long time, by negatively perceiving them afterwards.

However, when looking at our ability to form negative perception in daily life basis, it
seems highly unlikely as our results suggested that only a minority of them tend to do so. Even
so, peer influences are more likely to change people’s mindset about others. While most
participants acknowledged that their perceptions of others are influenced by their peers, they
refuted the idea that they also shape their peers’ opinions in return. Nevertheless, a negative
perception made tend to be untrue over time as people really get to know the other person in
depth. This, however, does not affect the relationships and attitudes between them. Lastly for
multiple choice question segment, the majority of participants once again agreed that they have
been negatively perceived by others.

Moving on, people tend to feel sad, disappointed, and hurt when others perceive them
negatively. The majority, 29 out of 33 participants, agreed to facing difficult emotions due to
being perceived negatively. The influence of perception relies on intuition, social media, past
experiences, inconsistencies in actions and words as well as peer influence. These elements are
the contributing factors which affect perception. Next, participants do agree that we should avoid
perceiving others negatively due to several reasons which includes to avoid misunderstanding,
have good relationships, avoiding unfair treatment and maintaining confidence and self-esteem.
The few ways we can do that is by having positive mindset, being friendly, avoiding being
judgmental, discussing openly and accepting differences.
EFFECTS OF NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS

Perceptions are best used in making sense of everything in this world of ours, but what
matters most is how we really rely on our perceptions to make critical or important decisions.
Anger, hatred, jealousy and to mention a few, are parts of negative tendencies towards negative
perceptions. Having negative perceptions can lead us into wrongly thinking about others whereas
we might always think we’re right while everyone else is wrongly. Not only that it could lead us
to think negatively, but it could mislead us into making the riskiest decisions or actions that we
could possibly regret in our lives.

One of the effects of negative perceptions is mental health implications. To be subjected

to negative perception can be harmful to an individual’s mental health. Constant discrimination
and bigotry can lead to an increase among marginalized individuals’ stress, anxiety, and
depression. For example, based on the survey we have collected, many respondents have
expressed their feelings when people negatively perceive them. Some experienced discomfort,
having self-doubt, frustrated and disappointed when people given them some negative
perceptions of themselves.

Next, reduced empathy and understanding. Negative perceptions are usually the result of
the lack of empathy and understanding. This can stifle meaningful connections between people
from different origins, resulting in a failure to value varied viewpoints and experiences.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS

Leading factors that contribute towards forming negative perception include influences
from social media, peers, intuition, past experiences, and behaviors which mismatch actions.
According to our survey, people tend to view others in a negative light when their social media
postings and contents reveal the other side of personality such as their toxicity. Sharing things
that seem to be different in ideology or beliefs also leads to such perceptions. Apart from that,
people can easily form negative perceptions when a person could not or does not behave the way
they interact with others. When people say something but do the exact opposite, others have the
tendency to develop negative views on those people as inability to keep one’s word is often
associated as bad or disappointing person.

Next, people also form negative perceptions based on their past experiences, where
certain criteria that they have encountered with others are marked as red flag and immediately
recognized when someone else displays it. Even so, there are possibilities for those assumptions
to be false too, which our participants did agree upon. They have negatively perceived people but
realized their assumptions are wrong afterwards. Also, people have a hunch that a person can be
good or bad naturally. However, this strikes similar to judging from past experiences as
sometimes people can perceive others falsely too. More importantly, peer influences play a vital
role in seeing others negatively, as we tend to abide or believe in our circle’s assumptions. Even
though people are entitled to different opinions, peers still can impact the way we view someone
else, which is also agreed by our participants.

Next, insecurities within a person tend to cloud their judgments too. Having insecurity
means a lack of clarity in one’s self-concept. Self-concept refers to how you see yourself in
relation to the people around you and the circumstances you find yourself in (Ghosh, 2022). An
insecure person chooses to see and point out the negativity in others. Lastly, a person’s belief
system also contributes towards forming negative perception. People create their own reality
based on their perception, not what actually exists (Ghosh, 2022). Having a preconceived notion
of how someone else is supposed to behave and act sets up false expectations and might end up
being disappointing. They see people from their own assumptions which makes it easy to
mistake people when something occurs.
SOLUTIONS

Addressing the negative perceptions surrounding psychosociology within the realm of social
sciences requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. To effectively combat these
misconceptions and foster a more positive view of the discipline, several key strategies can be
applied in this society.

First and foremost, education and awareness campaigns are essential. These initiatives should
aim to clarify what psychosociology is, its significance, and the real-world applications of its
research. Using relatable examples can make the subject matter more accessible to the general
public.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is another critical step. Psychosociologists should work closely

with experts in other social science disciplines to demonstrate how their insights complement
and enhance broader social research. This approach can highlight the value of
psychosociological contributions to solving complex societal issues.

Public engagement is pivotal. Organizing public lectures, workshops, and seminars can provide a
platform for psychosociologists to interact with the community and convey the practical
implications of their work. Such direct engagement can dispel misunderstandings and build trust.

Positive media representation plays a crucial role. Encouraging accurate and positive portrayals
of psychosociology in movies, television, news, and other media can help counteract negative
stereotypes and broaden the public's understanding of the field.

Advocacy for policy integration is vital. Psychosociologists should actively promote the
integration of their research into policy-making processes and social programs. This can
demonstrate the tangible impact of their work on addressing real-world challenges.

Ethical research practices are non-negotiable. Psychosociologists must adhere to high ethical
standards to maintain credibility and public trust. Highlighting these ethical standards can
reassure the public and alleviate concerns about the field.
Effective communication skills should be emphasized among psychosociologists. The ability to
convey their findings in a clear, relatable manner is essential for making their work more
accessible and engaging to a broader audience.

Linking psychosociology to mental health awareness is crucial. By demonstrating the discipline's

relevance to well-being and mental health, psychosociologists can engage a broader audience
and show how their research contributes to societal betterment.

Engaging in publications and media outreach can help disseminate psychosociological findings
widely. Encouraging researchers to write articles for popular magazines and newspapers and
engage with mainstream media can ensure that their work reaches a broader audience.

Collaboration with advocacy groups and organizations related to the social issues
psychosociology addresses is highly beneficial. This collaboration can create a network of
support and amplify the message that psychosociology plays a vital role in improving society.

Furthermore, encouraging students and early career professionals to pursue psychosociology is

crucial. Fostering a new generation of researchers and advocates ensures the continued growth
and relevance of the field.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, changing the negative perceptions of psychosociology within the social sciences
necessitates a multifaceted approach. Education, interdisciplinary collaboration, public
engagement, media representation, policy advocacy, ethical practices, effective communication,
mental health connections, publications, collaboration with advocacy groups, and nurturing new
talent are all essential components of a strategy to counteract misconceptions and promote the
discipline's value in understanding and improving society. Through these efforts,
psychosociology can gain the recognition it deserves and contribute significantly to addressing
pressing societal challenges.
REFERENCE

Social perception: definition and explanation of social perception. (2023, March 2). The Oxford
Review. https://oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/social-perception/

Ghosh, J. (2022, June 19). Factors Influencing Perception. Www.linkedin.com.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/factors-influencing-perception-joydeep-ghosh