I believe that it is not possible to preserve someone with out judging or categorizing them in some way. It is very similar to have some pre-conceived notion about a research topic before going to study that topic. Categorizing people seems to be a natural human reaction wither it is a positive or negative thought. Although we as humans do this to each other there are defiantly ways we can negate the original perception of people we encounter. We can minimize the judgments we make by simply speaking and actively listening to the person. When we actively listen to someone, that means that our attention is focused on the new information that is flowing in our minds; simultaneously changing or reinforcing our pre conceived notions about the person or subject. I recall when I met one of my good friends we weren’t sure about each other. We both had some judgement about one another. When we finally spoke, those judgments for one another were vanished. He asked me long after we became friends, what was the first thought I had about him. I honestly could not answer him because I forgot my judgments of him. I only knew what I perceived from him when I first met him.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Week 6- Judging/Categorizing
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I would generally have to agree with you Dom. I do not think we can keave out judgment in our evaluations of others. Although I feel like it is almost natural to categorize peopl, I do not think it is polite to do so. I mentioned in my post about Uncertainty reduction theory and I think it really applies in this context. Individuals have the most power on how they communicate with people they encounter- they can choose to automatically judge them, or be proactive in building a relationship with that person.I think that communication is the necessary tool to provide a breakdown of that uncertainty.
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