Accurate perceptions do not need complete information to reflect reality.
Social reality of a group emerges from interpersonal perceptions and beliefs put to action under a host of environmental conditions. By extending the study of fast-and-frugal heuristics, we view social perceptions as judgment tools and assert that perceptions are ecologically rational to the degree that they adapt to the social reality. We maintain that the veracity of both stereotypes and base rates, as judgment tools, can be determined solely by accuracy research.
The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School,Washington,D.C. 20036shabnam@jhu.eduhttp://carey.jhu.edu/faculty-research/directory/shabnam-mousavi-phd/.
Shabnam
S
Mousavi
Department of Psychology,University of California,Riverside,Riverside, CA 92521.david.funder@ucr.eduhttp://www.psych.ucr.edu/faculty/funder/.
David C
DC
Funder
D000066506:Heuristics; D007600:Judgment; D012938:Social Perception