In a short essay, list and discuss three shortcuts frequently used in judging others

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: In assumed similarity, the observer's perception of others is influenced more by the observer's own characteristics than by those of the person observed. For example, a middle manager may be focused on getting a promotion, so he will assume that other managers share his preoccupation in advancing in the organization.

When someone is judged on the basis of our perception of a group he or she is part of, we use the shortcut called stereotyping. Racial, ethnic, and gender stereotyping typically are the most harmful form of stereotyping. However, even "innocent" stereotyping, like assuming an individual from a particular group is a "hard worker" can create problems within an organization.

When individuals form a general impression about a person on the basis of a single characteristic, such as intelligence, sociability, or appearance, the halo effect is the influencing factor. For example, a manager may attribute a disproportionate amount of responsibility on an employee who is a superb golfer, even though that person's golf abilities might not translate at all to the workplace.