Perception in Relationships: Assigning Meaning to Behaviors

What stage of perception is Wendy in?

Is Wendy in the Selection, Organization, or Interpretation stage of perception in her relationship with Dale?

Final answer:

Wendy is in the interpretation stage of perception, where she is assigning meaning to Dale's behavior of bringing her coffee every morning. It should be noted that perceptions are provisional and may change with additional information.

Explanation:

In analyzing Wendy's situation with Dale, Wendy is primarily in the interpretation stage of perception. Perception is often understood to happen in three stages: selection, organization, and interpretation. Wendy has already selected certain cues (Dale bringing coffee) and organized them into meaningful information. Now she's digging deeper and assigning meaning to that information by interpreting it as Dale having romantic interest in her. It is crucial to note that perceptions are often influenced by our expectations, experiences, and emotions and are not always aligned with reality. These perceptions are susceptible to change given more data or circumstances.