Evaluation and Judgment

Q1: What are the different ways in which we evaluate people?
We evaluate people in a number of ways one of the ways which is very common is known as first impressions, in which upon seeing someone we instantly notice their clothing, hair style, skin color and other physical characteristics. Psychologists call this schema.
The primacy effect is another way of evaluating people. This is a theory that once we make the initial evaluation, other information has little affect on how we view that person, so the first impression sticks.
We also evaluate people based on Self-fulfilling prophecy, which is basically having expectations about a person which elicits certain behavior that confirms your expectations.
Stereotypes is a very common evaluation people make about other groups of people, such as black, whites, Asians and so on. Usually this type of evaluation turns to be negative
Q2: How do these factors play a role in our expectations of other people?
The way we evaluate people plays a significant role in our expectations of them, whether it is good or bad. Factors such as first impressions may give a false impression. Sometimes a person may be having a bad day, but they are genuinely a nice person. Other factors such as stereotypes can have very negative expectations of other people. Middle Eastern people have a very negative stereotype since September 11, 2001.
From schemata’s to stereotypes these factors influence people expectations of others; both positive and negative. People form views of others from these factors. These views are mainly based on false impressions that lead to prejudice and discrimination.
Q3: What are the disadvantages of these expectations?
When people have expectations of others they create preconceived ideas of how that person will behave in certain situations. This is very judgmental on the part of the person who has these expectations. Whether good or bad, judging others is never a good thing. People form...
The disadvantages of these expectations is that with our pre conceived notions of someone is that we may expect something of someone that may not be able to fill our expectations, which is not there fault but our own for making assumptions. These false expectations not only affect our own psyche but
Morris and Maisto (2005) bring forth a premise that our expectations of others, from all our ways of evaluating people, work for us and against us. Of course, in a positive way we attain good relationships using our abilities to evaluate other people. However, in the reverse our attitudes in areas like prejudice and racism work against successful relationships. We often rob ourselves of advantages that would be gained from interaction in a positive way through our biases and wrong attitudes. This effects us personally and as a society as a whole and has the long-range effect of segregation and discrimination which can lead as far as violence and war.

We evaluate people in many ways. We tend to evaluate people first by their outer appearance. Often we are attracted to speak to people that look similar or act similar to us. Sometimes we evaluate people via material items they possess or what they lack. Once we carry a conversation with them, it is then we evaluate them based on their values, morals, beliefs and sometimes cultural and educational background. These evaluations will continually to develop and change as we formulate new opinions and learn more about the person. We must try not to be judgmental but rather open minded and willing to learn and respect our differences. How do these factors play a role in our expectations of other people? These evaluations play into our expectations by creating stereotypes and notions. Stereotypes are misguided judgments, and notions are pre-conceived ideas we have about people. We learn to expect certain people to speak and carry themselves in specific ways. We also expect specific groups to carry specific jobs and societal functions. Our expectations are often right, but it is not a good idea to work off of expectations. As the old adage goes, you cannot judge a book by its cover. The factors we use to evaluate people must be used with great diligence because they could be false and incorrect. What are the disadvantages of these expectations?
The first impression can be a disadvantage because of pre -conceived notions and stereotypes which are false. We can misguide our self into believing somebody is something they are not. Once we begin to interact with one another and form true opinions we can get to know an individual for who they are, and not imagined expectations. Expectations also set limitations and don't allow us to reach our full open minded potential. In order to become better people we must really look at individual for their actions and values, rather than first impressions or generalized stereotypes. Expectations can truly inhibit new positive relationships from being formed.