Perception relies on the cognitive functions we use to process information, such as utilizing memory to recognize the face of a friend or detect a familiar scent. Through the perception process, we are able to both identify and respond to environmental stimuli. Perception includes the five senses; touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste. It also includes what is known as proprioception, which is a set of senses that enable us to detect changes in body position and movement. Many stimuli surround us at any given moment. Perception acts as a filter that allows us to exist within and interpret the world without becoming overwhelmed by this abundance of stimuli.
Types of Perception
The types of perception are often separated by the different senses. This includes visual perception, scent perception, touch perception, sound perception, and taste perception. We perceive our environment using each of these, often simultaneously. There are also different types of perception in psychology, including:
Person perception refers to the ability to identify and use social cues about people and relationships. Social perception is how we perceive certain societies and can be affected by things such as stereotypes and generalizations.
Another type of perception is selective perception. This involves paying attention to some parts of our environment while ignoring others.
How Perception Works
Through perception, we become more aware of (and can respond to) our environment. We use perception in communication to identify how our loved ones may feel. We use perception in behavior to decide what we think about individuals and groups. We are perceiving things continuously, even though we don’t typically spend a great deal of time thinking about them. For example, the light that falls on our eye’s retinas transforms into a visual image unconsciously and automatically. Subtle changes in pressure against our skin, allowing us to feel objects, also occur without a single thought.
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: Think of all the things you perceive on a daily basis. At any given moment, you might see familiar objects, feel a person’s touch against your skin, smell the aroma of a home-cooked meal, or hear the sound of music playing in your neighbor’s apartment. All of these help make up your conscious experience and allow you to interact with the people and objects around you.
Factors Influencing Perception
What makes perception somewhat complex is that we don’t all perceive things the same way. One person may perceive a dog jumping on them as a threat, while another person may perceive this action as the pup just being excited to see them. Our perceptions of people and things are shaped by our prior experiences, our interests, and how carefully we process information. This can cause one person to perceive the exact same person or situation differently than someone else. Perception can also be affected by our personality. For instance, research has found that four of the Big 5 personality traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism—can impact our perception of organizational justice. Conversely, our perceptions can also affect our personality. If you perceive that your boss is treating you unfairly, for example, you may show traits related to anger or frustration. If you perceive your spouse to be loving and caring, you may show similar traits in return.
Tips to Improve Perception
If you want to improve your perception skills, there are some things that you can do. Actions you can take that may help you perceive more in the world around you—or at least focus on the things that are important—include:
Pay attention. Actively notice the world around you, using all your senses. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, or touch? Using your sense of proprioception, notice the movements of your arms and legs, or your changes in body position.Make meaning of what you perceive. The recognition stage of the perception process is essential since it allows you to make sense of the world around you. Place objects in meaningful categories, so you can understand and react appropriately.Take action. The final step of the perception process involves taking some sort of action in response to your environmental stimulus. This could involve a variety of actions, such as stopping to smell the flower you see on the side of the road, incorporating more of your senses.
Potential Pitfalls of Perception
The perception process does not always go smoothly, and there are a number of things that may interfere with our ability to interpret and respond to our environment. One is having a disorder that impacts perception. Perceptual disorders are cognitive conditions marked by an impaired ability to perceive objects or concepts. Some disorders that may affect perception include:
Spatial neglect syndromes, which involve not attending to stimuli on one side of the body Prosopagnosia, also called face blindness, is a disorder that makes it difficult to recognize faces Aphantasia, a condition characterized by an inability to visualize things in your mind Schizophrenia, which is marked by abnormal perceptions of reality
Perception can also be negatively affected by certain factors. For instance, one study found that when people viewed images of others, they perceived individuals with nasal deformities as having less satisfactory personality traits. So, factors such as this can potentially affect personality perception.
History of Perception
Interest in perception dates back to the time of ancient Greek philosophers who were interested in how people know the world and gain understanding. As psychology emerged as a science separate from philosophy, researchers became interested in understanding how different aspects of perception worked—particularly, the perception of color. In addition to understanding basic physiological processes, psychologists were also interested in understanding how the mind interprets and organizes these perceptions. Gestalt psychologists proposed a holistic approach, suggesting that the sum equals more than the sum of its parts. Cognitive psychologists have also worked to understand how motivations and expectations can play a role in the process of perception. As time progresses, researchers continue to investigate perception on the neural level. They also look at how injury, conditions, and substances might affect perception.
