Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Person perception refers to the process of forming impressions and making judgments about other individuals based on their physical appearance, behavior, and other observable characteristics.
Stereotypes are widely held beliefs or assumptions about certain groups of people. These beliefs can influence our judgments and perceptions of individuals belonging to those groups.
Attribution: Attribution refers to the process of explaining someone's behavior by attributing it to either internal factors (such as personality traits) or external factors (such as situational circumstances).
The halo effect occurs when our overall favorable impression of someone influences our judgments about specific traits or behaviors associated with that person. For example, if we perceive someone to be physically attractive, we may also assume they possess positive qualities such as intelligence or kindness.