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8 - Metaperceptions

Do people know how others perceive them?

from Part I - Domains of accurate interpersonal perception

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2016

By
Erika N. Carlson  and
Maxwell Barranti
Edited by
Judith A. Hall ,
Marianne Schmid Mast  and
Tessa V. West
Judith A. Hall
Affiliation:
Northeastern University, Boston
Marianne Schmid Mast
Affiliation:
Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
Tessa V. West
Affiliation:
New York University
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Summary

Abstract

Metaperceptions, or beliefs about how other people perceive the self, are the implicit maps people use to navigate complex social environments. Are metaperceptions accurate? The answer to this question is complex and depends on several factors, such as how insight is measured, the attribute in question, and the social context. We first review several ways in which the accuracy of metaperceptions is typically conceptualized and measured. We then summarize for which attributes (e.g., intelligent, likeable) and in which contexts (e.g., among friends or coworkers) metaperceptions are accurate as well as for whom (e.g., personality traits, status) and in which situations. Next, we consider the process of metaperception and which sources of information lead people to form accurate beliefs about how others perceive them. Finally, we discuss future directions that may shed more light on when people know how others experience them and how to potentially improve this type of insight.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Social Psychology of Perceiving Others Accurately , pp. 165 - 182
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2016

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