Person perception change, its possibilities for clinical application

The purpose of this study is to determine if what has been learned by social psychologists in the area of perception can be useful in effecting changes in person perception of another. Three studies were conducted in an attempt to effect changes in person perception. Subjects were presented a perception stimulus, assessed for their perception, given a treatment or control condition, presented the stimulus again, and then reassessed. The experimental stimuli presented were a policeman issuing a traffic citation, an elderly couple, and socially unskilled graduate student. Three treatments were investigated: 1) arousal of empathy, 2) instruction in the process of impression formation, and 3) analysis and challenging of irrational perceptions. Results were inconclusive but suggest direction for future research. The implications of such research are discussed.