MGT262H5 Chapter 3: Chapter 3 notes
Document Summary
Perception is the process of interpreting the messages of our sense to provide order and meaning to the environment. People frequently base their actions on the interpretation of reality that their perceptual system provides, rather than reality itself. The perceiver: the perceiver"s experience, needs and emotions can affect his or her perceptions of a target. Past experiences lead the perceiver to develop expectations and these expectations affect current perceptions. Often, our needs unconsciously influence our perceptions by causing us to perceive what we wish to perceive. Perceptual defence is the tendency for the perceptual system to defend the perceiver against unpleasant emotions. The target: perception involves interpretation and the addition of meaning to the target, and ambiguous targets are especially susceptible to interpretation and addition. Perceivers have a need to resolve such ambiguities. The situation: every instance of perception occurs in some situational context, and this context can affect what one perceives.
