The Third person perception : a self-categorization explanation.

• Main Authors: Chua, Peggy Pei Si., Lin, Weirong., Ng, Kong Yong.
• Other Authors: Detenber, Benjamin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication::Public opinion
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/14945
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The third-person perception is the phenomenon whereby people perceive others to be more influenced by the media relative to themselves. The fundamental attribution error and optimistic bias have both been posited as the underlying explanation for this phenomenon. This study tested self-categorization theory’s explanatory powers of the third-person perception. The concepts of fit and perceived self-other similarity were found to significantly influence the third-person perceptual gap. However, tests employing the frame of reference failed to yield significant results. In addition, the study used the concept of self-construals as another means with which to pit the competing theories against each other, but the results were ambivalent. On the whole, the results provide support for self-categorization as a viable theoretical explanation for the third-person perception.