Final answer:
Alicia demonstrates social perception by recognizing a change in Tim's behavior and seeking clarification, an example of improving the accuracy of her perceptions by paying attention to non-verbal cues and communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alicia's message, "Hey, Tim, you seemed really quiet last night. Was it my imagination, or was something bothering you?" indicates her awareness and concern for her friend's emotional state. This reflects Alicia engaging in social perception, a key aspect of social interaction where individuals collect, interpret, and respond to information about others' emotions and behaviors. The excerpts provided show various characters attempting to read situations or recall details that may have indicated an underlying issue, whether it is a change in someone's behavior, like Mildred's restlessness and irritation, or direct confrontation of potential misunderstandings, as Bernice did when questioning Marjorie. Like Alicia, these characters display efforts to refine their understanding of others by interpreting non-verbal cues or seeking clarification on confusing interactions.