Perception & Culture

Presentation by Órla Leland and Michele Noonan

CS6022

Definitions

• Perception– The process by which the brain actively

selects, organises, and interprets sensory information.

• Culture– Learned behaviour of people, which includes

their belief systems and languages, their social relationships, their institutions and organisations, and their material goods

How do we Perceive?

• Sensation:– Result of stimulation of a sensory receptor

• Perception: – Interpret & organise sensations

“Perception is an active process. It exists neither in the head, sense organs or the environment alone but in the interaction between these elements.” Michael Cooke

Principles of Perception

• Pictorial & Audio elements will be perceived and interpreted differently.– The factor of proximity– The factor of similarity– The factor of uniform destiny– The factor of direction– Principle of good Gestalt– The factor of closure– Past experience or habit– Object and background articulation– Principle of Pragnanz

Perception contd.

• Perception as a process – not just looking and seeing what is out there.

• Sensory information = Building materials Understandings of the world

• Respond to visual stimuli – sometimes leads to incorrect perceptions, e.g. Optical illusions

Optical Illusions

Optical Illusions

Optical Illusions

How is Perception affected?

• The Role of Experience

• Sex and Age

• Cultural Influences