A New Perspective on Perspective Taking: A Multidimensional Approach to Conceptualizing an Aptitude

Abstract

Social perspective taking (SPT) is thought to be important in its own right and is often associated with other important skills, such as interpersonal conflict resolution.Thus, it is critical for researchers to systematically understand SPT and how it relates to other valued educational outcomes. In particular, a complete understanding of SPT might assist educational psychologists to apply this knowledge in school settings to improve the effectiveness of students' social interactions. Previous research on SPT, however, has conceptualized it as a unidimensional construct leaving scholars with an insufficient understanding of this aptitude. To best understand SPT, a multidimensional approach should include assessments of personal characteristics (including the propensity and the ability to engage in SPT) and features of the situation (including features of the SPT task and the larger context). Using Snow's conceptualization of aptitudes as a framework, this article illustrates the problems with treating SPT as a unidimensional construct, defines SPT as a complex aptitude, and provides a taxonomy to develop our understanding of SPT and to guide future research in this area. The taxonomy organizes and reviews the existing literature that relates personal and situational characteristics to SPT aptitude. Where research has not yet been conducted, this article hypothesizes how these characteristics will relate to SPT aptitude.

The Role of Social Perspective-Taking in Developing Students’ Leadership Capacities

“…Stemming largely from the social psychology literature, SPT reflects the ability to take another person's point of view and accurately infer the thoughts and feelings of others (Gehlbach, 2004;Johnson, 1975;Selman, 1980;Underwood & Moore, 1982). SPT, also known as "perspectivetaking" or "role-taking," represents both cognitive and affective dimensions that allow an individual to empathize with another while maintaining individuality (Galinsky et al, 2005).…”

“…SPT, also known as "perspectivetaking" or "role-taking," represents both cognitive and affective dimensions that allow an individual to empathize with another while maintaining individuality (Galinsky et al, 2005). SPT links theoretically to epistemological development and is considered a higher-order cognitive skill (i.e., associated with complex judgment, critical thinking, and problem solving particularly useful in novel situations ;Gehlbach, 2004;Hoffman, 2000). As cognitive structures develop, there is a "shift in focus from an egocentric embeddedness in his [SIC one's] own point of view to a cognitive orientation in which diverse aspects of objects or social situations are simultaneously taken into account" (Hale & Delia, 1976, p. 197).…”

“…Understanding oneself in relation to others augments the ability to foster social bonds and decreases in-group favoritism enhancing one's overall capacity to engage effectively in group processes. Despite scholars' claims regarding the importance of SPT and empirical evidence of the wide range of leadership-related skills that it positively influences (Corcoran & Mallinckrodt, 2000;Davis, 1983;Deutsch, 1993;Galinsky & Ku, 2004;Galinsky & Moskowitz, 2000;Gehlbach, 2004;Johnson, 1975;Parker & Axtell, 2001), most linkages are conceptual. The lack of empirical evidence is an odd omission from the college student leadership literature given the importance of the collegiate environment as a developmental context for cognitive, moral, and leadership development and their potentially shared influences on one another (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010;Komives, Owen, Longerbeam, Mainella, & Osteen, 2005).…”

Making Social Studies Social: Engaging Students Through Different Forms of Social Perspective Taking

“…It should be noted that SPT is an aptitude consisting of ability and motivation (Gehlbach, 2004). In other words, Sammy and Samantha might make more or less accurate inferences about Ms. Smith and MLK; but they will also vary in their motivation to take the perspective of these two targets.…”

The Social Side of School: Why Teachers Need Social Psychology

“…), the core construct of SPT entails discerning the thoughts and feelings of others with particular attention to how others perceive the situation. According to this formulation, SPT is a complex aptitude, consisting of an ability dimension as well as a motivational dimension (Gehlbach, 2004). In other words, for SPT to impact outcomes in the real world, people need to develop both the ability to read the thoughts and feelings of others accurately, and the motivation to engage in SPT frequently.…”