Module_2.1a

Unit 2: Cognition

Module 2.1A: Perception - Influences on Perception

• Author: Hammer, Myers/DeWall/Yost

• Source: Myers' Psychology for the AP® Course, 4e

• Copyright: © 2023 Worth/BFW Publishers

Learning Targets

• LT 2.1-1: Explain how selective attention directs our perceptions.

• LT 2.1-2: Explain how our expectations, contexts, motivation, and emotions influence our perceptions.

Selective Attention

• Definition: Selective Attention is the process of focusing conscious awareness on a specific stimulus.

• Important Points:

  • Our perceptions are shaped by our identities and experiences; we see the world not as it is, but as we are.

  • Attention limitations: People can only focus on one sensory input at a time due to the limited nature of attention.

  • Selective attention is determined by the importance of stimuli.

  • Distracted driving is a common example of poor attention management, as individuals frequently misinterpret how attention operates.

Example: The Cocktail Party Effect

• Illustration of selective attention where one can hear their name among various competing sounds.

Inattentional Blindness and Change Blindness

• Inattentional Blindness: The failure to notice visible objects when our attention is focused on another task.

• Change Blindness: A form of inattentional blindness where changes in a visual stimulus go unnoticed.

• Example: Missing dramatic changes in the environment due to lack of attention.

• Consequence: Change blindness can contribute to accidents, as the brain overlooks stimuli deemed unimportant.

Perceptual Set and Influences on Perception

• Perceptual Set: A mental predisposition; It's how our past experiences and expectations make us see things in a certain way, like having a mental filter that influences what we notice or ignore.

  
  

Factors Influencing Perceptual Set:

• Experience: Past experiences shape our interpretations of new stimuli.

• Expectations: Preconceived notions affect how we interpret information.

• Context: The surrounding environment provides significant clues for perception.

• Motivation & Emotions: Emotional state can alter our perception of stimuli.

Top-Down Processing

• Defined as processing sensory information based on existing knowledge, experiences, and expectations, impacting how stimuli are interpreted.

  • Example: Hearing ambiguous phrases in loud environments can lead to misinterpretation based on contextual cues (e.g., "eel" vs. "wheel").

• Cultural background influences perceptions and interpretations of scenes and behaviors.

  • Example: Different interpretations of visual scenes depend on cultural context (e.g., family sitting indoors vs. outdoors).

Context, Motivation, and Emotion's Role in Perception

• Context enhances or modifies interpretation of sensory data.

• Motivation affects perception; someone thirsty will perceive a water source as closer.

• Emotional state has a profound effect on perceptions; emotions can bias views on situations.

  • Example: A person may misinterpret intentions based on personal biases or emotional states.

Application and Practice

• Examine how magicians use principles of attention to deceive spectators.

• Reflect on personal experiences of selective attention that led to missing other stimuli (e.g., missing a friend's approach while focused on a task).

Visual Examples of Perceptual Set

• Figures illustrating how prior images influence perception of ambiguous images (interpretation of an old or young woman depending on prior stimulus).

• Observers' interpretations may change based on their prior exposure to similar stimuli.

Culture's Influence on Perception

• Discuss examples where cultural background influences perceptual interpretations of objects and scenes (perception of shapes and spatial relations).

Conclusion

• Perception is influenced by an intricate interplay of various internal and external factors, leading to subjective interpretations of reality.