DISCOVERING our DISCOVERING our REALITY REALITY

BY BY

JOI MARSHALLJOI MARSHALL

What Is Reality?What Is Reality?

Answer: Everything exists that is….• Observable• Accessible• Understandable

…based upon science, philosophy, theology or any other system of analysis.

4 Terms You Need to 4 Terms You Need to KnowKnow

• Cognitions: These are the smallest units of awareness. They are sometimes referred to as "stimulli" and are based upon our 5 senses.

• Environment: those things that are actually there around us.

• Reality: this is your mental interpretation of your environment.

• Perception: this is the process we experience that creates a reality from an environment.

THE PERCEPTION PROCESSTHE PERCEPTION PROCESS

SELECT

INTERPRET

ORGANIZE

IN THIS ORDER…• First we select data from our environment using our 5 senses• Second we organize and prioritize data so based upon our unique experiences, some data stands out over other information•Third - We manipulate data by searching our memory and assigning meaning to it based on its similarity to our previous experiences

More onMore onSelecting, Sorting, InterpretingSelecting, Sorting, Interpreting

Selecting/Sorting FiltersSelecting/Sorting Filters

• Psychological Condition

• Physical Condition• Language• Formal Learning• Experiences• Expectations

Interpreting FactorsInterpreting Factors

• Closure• Selective Perception• Patterning

Reality Reality Testing Our RealityTesting Our Reality

• Reality testing is used by mediators to encourage parties see their position and test what they see.

• Reality testing provides the critical thinker with a better way to handle interpretations of people, events and things in their environments

• Reality testing helps the critical thinker see that theirs is not the only reality

• Reality testing helps to narrow the gap in differences of perceptions

Good Communication = ListeningGood Communication = Listening

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF LISTENING BEHAVIOR THAT WE ENGAGE IN…

• Empathic Listening• Deliberative Listening

READING WRITING SPEAKING

HIERCHY OF GOODCOMMUNICATION...

LISTENING DOMINATES

EMPATHIC LISTENING…EMPATHIC LISTENING…

• The ability to recreate another person’s perspective

• An attempt to “emotionally” understand the reality of others

• Is an active process that takes energy and commitment

• Often confused with “sympathy”

• Total empathy is impossible to achieve

DELIBERATIVE LISTENING…DELIBERATIVE LISTENING…

• An attempt to hear information, analyze, draw conclusions and recall it at a later time

• Easiest type of listening, due to being reinforced educationally

• Good for gathering information and content• Not useful for narrowing differences in opposing

realities

Developing Better Listening SkillsDeveloping Better Listening Skills

Listening is a seven stage process of :

• hearing• selecting• attending• understanding• evaluating• remembering• and responding actively

with feedback

http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/spd110td/interper/listen/listening.html

STASISSTASIS• Creating a reality we’re

comfortable with• The absence of change• Leaving things as they

are without modification• A comfort zone• Can be a positive or

negative outlook concerning the world around us

Joi resting at the Park last weekend

thethe

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