Study Guide: Sensation & Perception Across Cultures (Chapter 4)

Sensation

The biological process of detecting stimuli such as light, sound, and touch.

Perception

The cognitive interpretation of sensory input, influenced by culture, experience, and expectations.

Perceptual Set

The tendency to perceive things in a certain way based on prior experiences, beliefs, and cultural norms.

Behavioral Environment

A mental representation that orients people to dimensions such as time, space, and interpersonal world.

Absolute Threshold

The minimum amount of physical energy needed for the observer to notice a stimulus.

Aesthetic Experience

The feeling of pleasure or displeasure evoked by stimuli perceived as beautiful or ugly.

Analytical Perception

A Western perception style focusing on central objects.

Holistic Perception

An Eastern perception style focusing on context and relationships between objects.

Kawaii

A concept in Japan representing playfulness and childlike aesthetics.

Ikebana

The Japanese art of flower arrangement that appreciates simplicity and impermanence.

Tonal Language Perception

The superior pitch differentiation developed by speakers of languages like Mandarin.

Polyrhythms

Complex rhythmic layering emphasized in African music.

Monochronic Cultures

Cultures that view time as linear and structured, such as the US and Germany.

Polychronic Cultures

Cultures that view time as fluid, such as Latin America and the Middle East.

Consciousness

The state of being aware, interpreted differently in Western vs. Indigenous and Eastern cultures.

Egocentric Spatial Orientation

Describing spatial relations relative to oneself, commonly found in Western cultures.

Allocentric Spatial Orientation

Describing spatial relations based on external landmarks, found in Indigenous and Oceanic cultures.