04-06-2012, 02:28 PM
PERCEPTION
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Meaning of Perception
Perception is the way that sensory information is chosen and transformed so that it has meaning. Once sensory input starts, an individual uses perceptual processes to select among sensory input stimuli and to organize them so that relevant action can occur. What one perceives is a result of interplays between past experiences, including one’s culture, and the interpretation of the perceived.
Difference between Sensation & Perception
Sensation
The process through which the senses pick up visual, auditory, and other sensory stimuli and transmit them to the brain; sensory information that has registered in the brain but has not been interpreted.
Perception
Perception on the other hand is the process by which sensory information is actively organized and interpreted by the brain in order to give meaning to the environment.
Internal Factors Influencing the Perception Process
a) Habit: Habits die hard and therefore individuals perceive objects, situations and conditions differently according to their habits.
Example: A Hindu will bow and do Namaskar when he sees a temple while walking on road, because of his well-established habit.
b) Motivation and interest: Motivational factors increase the individual's sensitivity to those stimuli which he considers as relevant to the satisfaction of his needs in view of his past experience with them
Example: A worker who has a strong need for affiliation, when walks into the lunchroom, the table where several coworkers are sitting tends to be perceived and the empty table or the table where only one person is sitting will attract no attention.
c) Learning: The state of learning influences and plays a crucial role in the perception process. Although interrelated with motivation and personality, learning may play the single biggest role in developing perceptual set. People perceive as per their levels of learning.
Biases affecting Perception and Attribution
• Selective exposure
• Interest
• Stereotypes
• Expectations
• Projection
• Fundamental attribution error is the tendency to underestimate the influence of situational factors and to overestimate the influence of personal factors in evaluating someone else’s behavior.
• Self-fulfilling prophecy is the tendency to deny personal responsibility for performance problems but to accept personal responsibility for performance success