PerceptionPerception refers to the interpretation of the sensory data. It is a process through which the information from outside environment is selected, received, organized and interpreted to make it meaningful. This input of meaningful information results in decisions and actions.

Perception is primarily an individual process so that different people may perceive an identical situation differently.

People behave on the basis of what they perceive reality to be and not necessarily as what reality is.

Major Influences on the Perception Process

Characteristics of the Perceiver

Needs Values Experiences Attitudes

Characteristics of the Perceived

Appearance Communication Behaviour

Characteristics of the situation

Physical Location Social setting Organizational setting

Perception Overall

Understanding of Perception

Perceptual organization Perceptual Organization is the process by which we group outside stimuli into recognizable and identifiable patterns and whole objects.

Factors which contribute to Perceptual Organization :1. Figure – Ground

The figure – ground principle simply means that we tend to be attentive to such perceived objects that stand out against a background. 2. Perceptual Grouping

Perceptual grouping identifies our tendency to group several individual stimuli into a meaningful and recognizable pattern.

Factors of Perceptual Groupinga)Continuity: - It relates to the tendency to

perceive objects as continuous patterns.b)Closure: - It is the tendency to perceive

objects as a whole, even when some parts of the objects are missing.

c) Proximity: - The principle of proximity states that a group of objects or people who are physically close to each other may be perceived as related to each other so that they stand out as one unit.

d)Similarity: - The principle of similarity states that the greater the similarity among the objects or people, the greater the tendency to perceive them as a common group.

Perceptual SelectivityIt refers to the tendency to select certain objects from the surrounding for attention such that these objects are consistent with our existent beliefs, values and needs.Processes that enhance selectivity: -

Only strong, bright or loud stimuli activate our senses.

Our ability to tune out certain stimuli to which we have been continuously exposed (known as Sensory Adaptation)

Factors influencing the process of stimuli selection:

Barriers to Perceptual Accuracy

A. Stereotyping: - We often tend to classify people and events into already known or perceived general categories.

a. Sex role stereotypeb.Age stereotypes

Factors of Stimuli Selection

External Factors Internal Factor

Size Intensity Contrast Repetition Movement Novelty Familiarity Order

Learning and perception

Motivation and perception

B. Halo effect: - It refers to the tendency of judging a person entirely on the basis of a single trait that may be favourable or unfavourable.

C. Expectancy: - It is a tendency to perceive people, objects or events on the basis of what we expected them to be in the first place. It is also called as “ Pygmallion effect”.

This phenomenon is also rightly remarked as “SELF- FULFILLING PROPHECY”

D. Perceptual Defense is the mental process by which we tend to protect ourselves from such objects, situations or stimuli that are emotionally disturbing or perceptually threatening.

E. Projection: - It refers to the tendency of people to see their own traits in other people, i.e. they project their own characteristics into others.