1. Be Aware of Your Schemata This chapter calls attention to how your perceptual processes affect your impressions of people.

Apply what you’ve learned to your everyday use of cognitive schemata. Pay attention to the cognitive schemata you use the next time you meet a new person. First, notice how you classify the person.

Do you categorize her or him as a potential friend, date, coworker, or neighbor? Next, identify the constructs you use to assess the person. Do you focus on physical characteristics (attractive–not attractive), mental qualities (intelligent–not intelligent), psychological features (secure–not secure), or interpersonal qualities (friendly–not friendly)?
Next, ask whether you would rely on different constructs if you used a different prototype to classify the person. Now, note how you stereotype the person. What do you expect him or her to do based on the prototype and constructs you’ve applied? Finally, identify your script, or how you expect interaction to unfold between you.