4. Use the ladder of abstraction to describe the relationships between perception, communication, and action in one interpersonal encounter in your life. First, describe the total situation as fully as you can (your descriptions won’t be absolutely complete—that’s impossible). Next, describe the behaviors and environmental cues you noticed.

Then, identify the way you labeled what was happening and others who were present. Finally, describe how you acted in the situation. Now, consider alternative selective perceptions you might have made and how they might have influenced your labels and actions.