PERCEPTION
Everyday different stimuli around us will be stimulating our sense organs. Many of these stimuli
are received by our sense organs and are converted into sensations.
These sensations are transmitted to the concerned parts of brain.
In turn the brain will interpret these sensations. It is only after such interpretation we understand what
the stimulus is
This process of ‘interpretation of stimulus is known as perception’.
So perception involves two processes: sensation interpretation.
DEFINITION:
perception may be defined as “a process of interpretation of a present stimulus on the basis of past
experience”
Perception is the organizing process by which we interpret our sensory input”—Edmund Fantino.
Perception Process
To better understand how we become aware of and respond to stimuli in the world around us,
it can be helpful to look at the perception process. This varies somewhat for every sense.
In regard to our sense of sight, the perception process looks like this:
Environmental stimulus: The world is full of stimuli that can attract attention. Environmental
stimulus is everything in our surroundings that has the potential to be perceived.
Attended stimulus: The attended stimulus is the specific object in the environment on which
our attention is focused.
Image on the retina: This part of the perception process involves light passing through the
cornea and pupil onto the lens of the eye. The cornea helps focus the light as it enters, and the
iris controls the size of the pupils to determine how much light to let in. The cornea and lens act
together to project an inverted image onto the retina.
Transduction: The image on the retina is then transformed into electrical signals through a
process known as transduction. This allows the visual messages to be transmitted to the brain
to be interpreted.
Neural processing: After transduction, the electrical signals undergo neural processing. The
path followed by a particular signal depends on what type of signal it is (for example, an
auditory signal or a visual signal).
Perception: In this step of the perception process, you perceive the stimulus object in the
environment. It is at this point that you become consciously aware of the stimulus.
Recognition: Perception doesn't just involve becoming consciously aware of the stimuli. It is
also necessary for the brain to categorize and interpret what you are sensing. This next step,
known as recognition, is the ability to interpret and give meaning to the object.
Action: The action phase of the perception process involves some type of motor activity that
occurs in response to the perceived stimulus. This might involve a significant action, like
running toward a person in distress. It can also include doing something as subtle as blinking
your eyes in response to a puff of dust blowing through the air.
Perceptual process
Perceptual process consists of several sub-processes. It is an input-output process.
Here, the stimuli, namely, the environment, subject, events or people can be considered as
inputs. These inputs are ‘processed’ through selection, organization, and interpretation. The
outcomes are opinions, feeling and attitudes etc. which ultimately decide the behavior of the
people
Perceptual inputs: Stimuli may be in the form of objects, events or people. [Taj Mahal, filthy
gutters, cheating by cab drivers, beggars or Santhi Niketon as mentioned in the example]
When the perceiver interacts with a stimulus, sensation takes place which starts perception
process.
Perceptual mechanism: It involves three elements viz. selection of stimuli, organization of
stimuli and interpretation of stimuli.
Selection of stimuli: As it is not possible for a person to use all the stimuli which he sees in the
environment, only some are selected for further processing while others are screened out
Organization of stimuli: The stimuli are organized in some form to make sense out of that.
Interpretation of stimuli: People interpret the meaning of what they have selectively perceived
and organized in terms of their own assumptions of people, things and situations.
Perceptual outputs: These outputs may be in the form of attitudes, opinions, beliefs or
impression. These outputs along with other factors result in actual behavior
Factors influencing perceptual selectivity:
Perception is a selective process as people can select only a limited amount of information in
the environment. Perceptual selectivity is caused by two categories i.e. external and internal
External factors in perceptual selectivity:
Size: Size affects attraction of the perceiver. Generally bigger the size, higher is the probability
of getting attracted. Bigger letters in the newspapers, large screens, tall and hefty people, big
buildings etc, attract people’s attention easily. Many a time miniatures such as replicas of
buildings, books etc also get noticed by people.
Intensity: The intensity principle of attention suggests that higher the intensity of the external
stimulus, the more likely it is to be perceived. A loud voice, strong odor or bright light is noticed
more as compared to feeble voice, weak odor or dim light.
Repetition: Repeated external stimulus is more likely to get noticed. Repetition increases
people’s sensitivity or alertness to the stimulus. Advertisers use this principle to attract
consumers’ attention.
Familiarity: Familiar situation or events in familiar situation, familiar jargons or familiar people
draw attention.
E.g. same sales-persons in a departmental store draw the attention of the customers. Familiar
or known faces in a crowd or a foreign land certainly attract one’s attention.
Novelty: Novel events and situations attract attention.
Contrast: When someone looks different from others, such as a tall man in a crowd or a dwarf
among the tall, draws attention. When the entire crowd is in white and white, the only man in
black suit certainly draws other’s attention.
Motion: A moving object draws more attention as compared to a stationary object. People look
curiously at a bullet train when it speeds at 500 km / hr rather than when it idles in the station.
A fountain or waterfall draws more people than a calm water body.
Internal factors in perceptual selectivity:
While external factors are related to environmental stimuli, internal factors are concerned with
the mental makeup of individuals.
There are many internal factors which influence selection of stimuli.
In regard to our sense of sight, the perception process looks like this:
1. Environmental stimulus: The world is full of stimuli that can attract attention.
Environmental stimulus is everything in our surroundings that has the potential to be
perceived.
2. Attended stimulus: The attended stimulus is the specific object in the environment on
which our attention is focused.
3. Image on the retina: This part of the perception process involves light passing through
the cornea and pupil onto the lens of the eye. The cornea helps focus the light as it enters,
and the iris controls the size of the pupils to determine how much light to let in. The
cornea and lens act together to project an inverted image onto the retina.
4. Transduction: The image on the retina is then transformed into electrical signals through
a process known as transduction. This allows the visual messages to be transmitted to the
brain to be interpreted.
5. Neural processing: After transduction, the electrical signals undergo neural processing.
The path followed by a particular signal depends on what type of signal it is (for
example, an auditory signal or a visual signal).
6. Perception: In this step of the perception process, you perceive the stimulus object in the
environment. It is at this point that you become consciously aware of the stimulus.
7. Recognition: Perception doesn't just involve becoming consciously aware of the stimuli.
It is also necessary for the brain to categorize and interpret what you are sensing. This
next step, known as recognition, is the ability to interpret and give meaning to the object.
8. Action: The action phase of the perception process involves some type of motor activity
that occurs in response to the perceived stimulus. This might involve a significant action,
like running toward a person in distress. It can also include doing something as subtle as
blinking your eyes in response to a puff of dust blowing through the air.
Perception is defined as the process of assigning meaning to information received
about the environment based on past experience
PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION
Principles of perceptual organization:
Principles of Figure-Ground relati0onship: According to this principle any figure can be
perceived more meaningfully in a background and that figure cannot be separated from that
background.
For example, letters written with a white chalk piece are perceived clearly in the background of a
blackboard.
In above picture two faces can be seen in the background of a white colour. So also the white
background can be perceived as a vessel in the background of two faces.