PERCEPTION

“ WE DON’T SEE THINGS

AS THEY ARE, WE SEE
THINGS AS WE ARE.”
 OVERVIEW:
• Our senses are our windows to the world; and perception is the process
that interprets what these windows should be. **

• This particular chapter presents the principles behind perception – how

and why we perceive the way we do through what our senses gather from
the forces and energies from our surroundings.

• Psychology emphasizes that our only link to external reality, the senses – as
interpreted by our perception – are the starting point for learning, thinking,
remembering, communicating, problem solving which are all
psychological processes.
 PERSPECTIVE OF PERCEPTION
• Perception has its role in affecting differences in individual behavior. In
fact, many of our behaviors are the offshoots of perception.

• The figures shown are actually depicting or representing concrete ideas;

however as we initially “sense” them, they seem to be mere meaningless
blobs and blots because our brain may have not yet processed it as
expected.

• As we study the figures closer and longer, however, we may succeed in

deciphering their true meaning by converting our sensation into
perception
• People differ in their perceptions and this is one of the causes of
differences in individual behavior. Because of this perception, human
beings agree or disagree with one another.

✔ Agreement in perception may result in cooperation,

while disagreement may end in conflict.

✔ “Many of the world’s problems, whether among

individuals, groups of people, or among nations may be
traced to differences in perceptions.”
 PROCESSES INVOLVED IN
PERCEPTION
• Perception is thus a neural activity that selects, organizes, and interprets
sensory signals to produce a mental representation of the original stimuli.

✔ It is the brain’s attempt to describe objects and events in

the world, based on sensory input and knowledge.
• Since perception is preceded by sensation, the role of physiological
aspects of the body cannot be taken for granted:

✔ The nervous system should be in excellent condition in

order for perception to occur, for it is through the sense
organs that man comes in contact with the outer world
or the environment.

✔ Any defect or deficiency may lead to inadequate or

distorted perception and misinterpretation of reality.
 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE PERCEPTION
1. Characteristics of Stimulus (External Cues):
• Intensity – the more intense the stimulus, the more likely it is to be attended
to and perceived. Too much intensity, however, may be distracting.
✔ Neon lights and bright colors in advertisements make
use of this principle.
• Repetition – this is one factor that advertisers use very effectively. One
minute "spot commercial" over radio or television repeated every hour can
catch the attention of the listener or viewer more than a single 10-minute
commercial once a day.
✔ In connection with this, experience has shown that
repeating fundamental motif with some variations is
more effective than repeating it without variations,
which can be monotonous.
• Contrast – as the term indicates, contrast means an intensified difference
from the immediate surroundings The use of uniforms by policemen, army
men, and medical doctors exemplifies this.
✔ In camouflage activities, the reverse is done. One wears
what should blend with the environment. Detectives,
therefore, use plain clothes in order to avoid being
recognized as such.
• Movement – moving stimuli are more likely to attract attention than
stationary ones. A slow movement, however, may get more attention than
a stimulus with the usual speed of movement.
✔ Slow movement used in flashbacking basketball games
to emphasize the commission of fouls, and the slow
driving of a reputedly fast driver will get attention and
be easily perceived.
• Change in Stimulus – change in the characteristic of the stimulus as a result
of lighting and movement may aid in the easier perception of an object.
✔ Illumination in billboards, changes in packing, variations
in advertising all call attention that lead to focused
perception.
2. Characteristics of the Perceiver (Internal Cues):
• Motivation - perception is highly selective. We tend to perceive more
those objects or stimuli that are consistent with our motives. Perception of
stimuli that do not fit into our motives is remote. Most studies reveal that
individuals generally respond more to need-related stimuli than to neutral
ones and those that are foreign to said needs.
✔ Different motivations then lead to different perceptions.
One who reads the Pilipino komiks in an effort to
understand why many Filipinos read will perceive
reading the komiks as purposive and informative.
Another may see it from different perspective and
consider komiks as a waste of time and as degrading,
for they perceive that komiks are literary trash.
• Past Experience – experiences that are rewarding and punishing tend to
color our perception.

✔ Perception of a teacher is affected by past experiences

with that teacher or anyone associated with him.
✔ A teacher may be really kind, but once tagged as a
"terror," chances are that he will be perceived as such
even though he is not.
• Physical Characteristics of the Individual – one who is good-looking
maybe perceived by others as ugly and vice versa. A five-footer may
perceive himself as short in comparison with six-footer. Yet the six-footer
may, likewise, consider himself short compared to someone much taller
than he.
✔ This is an example of shifts in the frame-of-reference.
Frame- of-reference refers to the interrelated
characteristics of stimulation from the external
environment and qualities of the perceiver which
function jointly in determining perception. The frame-of-
reference concept is not only valuable in the
perception of one's self but is even more valuable in
social perception and in decision-making.
• Interest and Attitude – people attend to those aspects of their environment
that they are interested in.

✔ The number of people who visit the place daily may

awe a promenade at the Rizal Park.
✔ Another person may focus his attention on the
landscaping of the place. Still another be more
interested in the behavior of park visitors.
✔ In the zoo, the zoologist may be interested in the
animals themselves, while the student of human
behavior may be more interested in the people who go
there.
• Attention - at any single time, human beings can only be aware of a very
limited number of stimuli.
✔ When we say, "we cannot do two things at a time,"
what we mean is that we cannot pay attention to two
stimuli at the same time effectively.
✔ Stimulus conditions and internal factors determine what
a person attends to. Among the stimulus conditions are
movement, change, size, repetition, novelty, and
frequency whether high or low. Advertisers must catch
the attention of people, so they fully utilize these
principles.
It’s All in the Mind