Looking at Perception as the Interpretation of Information
Perception is the interpretation of information, which we receivethrough our senses. We all receive sensory information, like smells,sounds or noises. We can also make sense of them, both consciously andunconsciously. This therefore allows us to fit the new information inwith other things that we already know. As part of studying humanbeings we need to be able to explain both how the similarities havecome about and also how the differences happen. The study ofperception is one of the most advanced areas of psychology. Manyperceptual processes, especially those involving vision and audition,are well understood and provide a vital bridge between neuroscienceand behavioral science. But much more must be learned. One majormystery is how we identify the shapes of things, the configuration ofcontours and edges that populate our visual world with poodles,people, potholes, and Picassos. Another is how we move fromidentifying the shapes of objects to identifying the objectsthemselves. A third is how perception is influenced by a person’sexperiences, motives, expectations, and goals. Psychologists considerthat people have come to be who they are as a result of two sources ofinfluence: Firstly, their biological make up, and secondly theexperiences which they encounter throughout life. This debate iscalled the nature – nurture debate. Within this essay the nature -nurture debate about perception will be discussed as will theconflicting theories, evidence and the opinions of the debate.
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Perception is the process by which we make sense of our sensations.The proc…
…ontains no clue as to which oftwo alternative hypotheses is correct: the perceptual systementertains first one then the other hypothesis, and never comes to aconclusion, for there is no best answer. Sometimes the eye and braincome to wrong conclusions, and then we suffer hallucinations orillusions.
Some criticisms of the nature nurture debate is that most researchinvolves babies who although young, have had some experience of theworld, and therefore it is hard to separate the learned and innateresponses evidence of the empiricist position. It is also difficult tointerpret animal studies to human studies. Most psychologists useanimals when studying different perspectives, so they can get a validconclusion. But with it being animals they are studying and not humanswho are the one who will be of benefit.
