Individual Differences in Person Perception

This article discusses the influence of individual differences on person perception. It highlights the author's personal experience of misjudging the CEO of ABY Company due to hearsay and how it was corrected. The article cites relevant studies to support the argument.

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Running head: INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSON PERCEPTION
Individual Differences in Person Perception
Name
Institution Affiliation

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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSON PERCEPTION
There is enough evidence showing that in most cases our attribution is far from perfect.
We are human beings with individual differences that influence our behavior and actions. Our
expectations do influence the attributions we have about another person (Bruce, Bindemann &
Lander, 2018).
I remember one time when I used to work as a salesperson in ABY Company. ABY is
quite a big company which has extended its wings to the international market. Being a junior
employee, I had developed fear and a negative attitude towards the CEO of the company. I had
heard many junior employees claiming that the CEO was very unfriendly and didn’t pay
attention to their needs (Bruce, Bindemann & Lander, 2018). Personally, I had not had the
chance of meeting the CEO or interacting with him as I was a new employee.
Just like the other junior employees, I perceived the CEO as unfriendly and uncaring
(Bruce, Bindemann & Lander, 2018). My aim was to be the best salesperson of the ABY
Company. I always gave the best I could to ensure that the products of the company sold as
expected. Within three months of operation, I was named the best salesperson in the company. I
was delighted due to the fact that my efforts were bearing fruits. Normally, ABY Company has a
culture of recognizing and rewarding employees who have performed exceptionally. During the
normal monthly meetings, I heard the CEO praising me and commending my good work. The
CEO stated that my performance was the best in the history of the company, given the fact that I
was a new employee. The CEO was very free while communicating and even after awarding me;
he said that I should meet him in his office the next day.

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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSON PERCEPTION
I was somehow confused because the picture that the CEO depicted during the meeting
was very different from what I had been hearing about him. The next morning I went to see the
CEO expecting to meet a very stern and unfriendly individual (Buyukcan-Tetik, Finkenauer &
Bleidorn, 2018). However, I was shocked by the cordial welcome that I received from the CEO.
He told me that the aim of calling me in his office was to discuss the challenges that I was facing
in my daily work routines. He told me that the organization wanted to help me in clearing some
of the challenges that I was facing for efficiency in operation. I openly discussed with the CEO
the challenges and most effectual solutions that could be implemented. Honestly speaking, I
found the CEO very concerned and interactive. He was the contrary of what I had heard the
employees saying. One thing that I noted is that the CEO was not friendly to me alone as he later
organized personal meetings with all the company’s salespersons (Buyukcan-Tetik, Finkenauer
& Bleidorn, 2018). I heard that the CEO normally organized a meeting with all the salespersons
to ensure that they discussed the issues they were facing and their possible solutions. The
employees who were talking ill of the CEO might have their personal issues or biased.
I came to realize that my attributions about the CEO were very wrong. The CEO was
very friendly and concerned as opposed to the expectations I earlier had on him. I expected the
CEO to be unfriendly and unconcerned but after meeting him, I found that he was a very
different person. Sometimes we should aim at affirming things prior to making unnecessary
attributions (Buyukcan-Tetik, Finkenauer & Bleidorn, 2018).

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INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSON PERCEPTION
References
Bruce, V., Bindemann, M., & Lander, K. (2018). Individual differences in face perception and
person recognition. Cognitive Research: Principles And Implications, 3(1). doi:
10.1186/s41235-018-0109-4
Buyukcan-Tetik, A., Finkenauer, C., & Bleidorn, W. (2018). Within-person variations and
between-person differences in self-control and wellbeing. Personality And Individual
Differences, 122, 72-78. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.10.013