So-called selective perception follows structured patterns, not random individual variance.

Evidence

Between these two factors of nearness and distance, however, a peculiar tension arises, since the consciousness of having only the absolutely general in common has exactly the effect of putting a special emphasis on that which is not common. For a stranger to the country, the city, the race, and so on, what is stressed is again nothing individual, but alien origin, a quality which he has, or could have, in common with many other strangers. For this reason strangers are not really perceived as individuals, but as strangers of a certain type. Their remoteness is no less general than their nearness. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Selective perception theory smuggles in a false pluralism hiding structured audience patterns.; Selective perception theory masks the structured clustering of audience misreadings; Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401 (+3 more)

Related

• Selective perception theory falsely privatizes systematically structured audience readings (similarity 0.81)
• Audience readings cluster into structured patterns rather than random individual variation (similarity 0.80)
• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals (similarity 0.80)
• A stranger is someone personally unknown yet visually available (similarity 0.80)
• Selective perception theory masks the structured clustering of audience misreadings (similarity 0.79)
• Every person is perceived as both unique individual and general type (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals #exemplifies (0.82) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401
• Selective perception theory smuggles in a false pluralism hiding structured audience patterns. #corroborates (0.75)
• Selective perception theory masks the structured clustering of audience misreadings #corroborates (0.70)