Perception

Perception

• A process by which individuals organizes and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment.
• What one perceives can be substantially different from objective reality.
• People’s behavior is based on their perception of what reality is, not reality itself.
• September , 2001(9/11): Muslims living in U.S., stereotype

Factors influencing perception:

• Individuals may look at the same things, yet perceive it differently?
• Number of factors operates to shape and sometimes distort perception.
• These factors can reside in the: Perceiver, in the Object or target being perceived and in the context of the Situation in which the perception is made.

Personal characteristics like:

• Personal experience
• Police officers to be authoritative
• Young people to be lazy
• Perceived them, regardless of their actual traits

Characteristics of target being observed can affect what is perceived

• Loud people more likely to be noticed in a group than quiet ones
• Extremely attractive or unattractive individuals
• Relationship of a target to its background also influences perception
• Women, people of color, member of any other group that has clearly distinguishable characteristics (features or colors)

Context or situation:

• Time: at which an object or event is seen can influence attention
• Location. Light, heat, and other situational factors.

 (Ref: Organization Behavior, S.P.Robbins)