Perception
Perception is the understanding we gain about a subject.
There are two steps to the process that leads to understanding –
- Capture: Information is captured via our sense organs. They receive information in the form of light, sounds, taste, smell and touch. The quality of what is captured by our sense organs is determined by their sensitivity, and our physical perspective.
- Consumption: This step involves the processing of the information received via our sense organs. The information is processed in such a way that a coherent unit of understanding is developed from the inputs received through the organs. During this process, our mental perspective determines what information is relevant and irrelevant. It also determines the weights assigned to each bit of information that is captured.
This process of information capture and the following consumption completes our understanding of the subject.
Our ability to understand a subject is thus limited by –
- our abilities to capture the information, and
- our abilities to consume the information.
Once information is captured, our mental perspectives act as filters and comparators. They determine what information is relevant to us and assign weights to different parts of the relevant information. Those weights and determination of relevance are used as supplementary inputs by our processing centers. Our processing centers then use those weighted inputs to weave our unique understanding of the subject.
Many factors affect the determination of the relevance of a bit of information. If it’s an ideology, it could depend on the level of trust assigned to the source and the existing ideologies of the individual. If it’s an incident, it could be the result of affinity or dislike towards the incident or the subjects affected by the incident. If it involves an individual, it could depend on the existing biases and prejudices regarding the individual or their kind. The reasons could be as varied as there are individuals on this planet.
Once an understanding is reached, it determines how we feel about the subject, and how we act or react towards it.
Note:
Perception is a continuous process. Our perception on the same subject evolves over time as we ourselves evolve and update our mental perspectives. We may gain more experience, be influenced by other’s opinions, have a better understanding of the subject or lose understanding of the subject, and more. .
Emotions, Actions and Reactions
Our understanding evokes emotions about the subject that is being observed.
They can be –
- Positive: Evoking a positive feeling towards the subject.
- Negative: Evoking a negative feeling towards the subject. This could be dislike, anger, jealousy etc.
- Ambivalence: Evoking neither a positive nor a negative feeling towards the subject.
Our physical and mental reactions towards a subject is regulated by our emotions regarding the subject, and their intensities. Those feelings, actions and reactions together determine the quality of our lives.
A violent reaction in response to a subject may result in a violent reaction back from the subject and/or proponents of the subject. An angry outburst may result in an angered subject(s) and/or proponents of the subject(s). Both of which could result in conflicts that can cause physical and mental harm to us.
On the other hand, a peaceful and gracious response to a subject may result in a gracious response back from the subject(s) and/or proponents of the subject(s). Such a reaction can result in peace and improved mental states.
Summary
Our perspectives determines what information is received, what information is processed and how it is processed by our brains. Our understanding of a subject, thus is a result of our unique physical and mental perspectives. That understanding affects our emotional states. Those emotions, actions and reactions then determine the quality of our lives.
The quality of our lives, therefore, ultimately depend on our perspectives. Hence, it is in our best interests to try our best to broaden our perspectives.
to be continued…
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