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meaning to their environment by selecting, organizing and interpreting their sensory impression. People must have different mental and cognitive process. The
way they interpret their sensory impression must be different one each other as well. Thus, the meaning each individual gives to their environment must be
different and that what makes different perception of each individual Gibson, 1985, p.60.
“Perception refers to the acquisition of specific knowledge about objects or events at any particular moment. It occurs whenever stimuli activate the
senses” Gibson 1985. It means that an individual receives a stimulus; their senses start to be active in selecting, organizing, and interpreting the stimuli.
When they experience selecting, organizing, and interpreting the stimuli, they acquire specific knowledge of a certain object. That is why perception involves
cognition aspect, because it has to do with knowledge. The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting the stimuli affects an individual’s behavior in the
forming of an individual’s attitudes ibid, p.61.
a. The Perceptual Process
Gibson’s theory is used to explain how the perception is formed. According to Gibson 1985, perception is the cognitive process by which an
individual gives meaning to the environment. In seeing the same thing, each individual will have different interpretation. It is because each individual gives his
or her own understanding to the stimuli. p.60
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The perceptual process according to Gibson 1985 is divided into four stages. The first stage is when an individual receives stimuli, their senses will
observe it. They will see if the stimuli they receive fulfill their needs. If they consider that the stimuli can fulfill their needs, they will continue to the next stage
of the perceptual process. The next stage is how several factors, such as stereotype, selectivity, self-concept, situation, needs, and emotions, influence an
individual’s perception. The stimuli that they received are processed by an individual’s stereotype, selectivity, self-concept, situation, needs, and emotions.
After passing through this process, the brain produces the evaluation and interpretation of reality which influences an individual’s behavior and form the
attitude toward the stimuli.
Figure 2.1 The Perceptual Process
Stimuli Observation
of the stimuli Factors influencing
perception -
Stereotyping -
Selectivity -
Self-concept -
Situation -
Needs -
Emotions The evaluation
and interpretation
of reality A response
behavior Attitudes
formed
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b. Factors influencing Perception
There are several factors influencing people’s perception. Gibson 1985 mentions that there are six factors which influence perceptions p.64. They are
explained as follows. 1
Stereotype Most people are often stereotyping each other. Students are stereotyping
their math teacher, Men are stereotyping women, women are stereotyping men, and many others. Stereotype is judgments about the characteristics of people. As
an instance, in a math class, several students consider that their math teacher is fierce. This group of students could possibly do the task given by the teacher more
seriously. Meanwhile, when the other group of students consider that their science teacher is clumsy, they could behave in improper ways and do not do the task
given by the teacher seriously. Thus, stereotyping could result in improper result ibid, p.64.
2 Selectivity
People tend to select information supporting their point of view. They tend to ignore the stimuli which make them uneasy or uncomfortable. Supposed that a
student is working in a group; she find out that her group mate is annoying. On the peer assessment, this student may give her group mate lower score than the others,
even though her group mate is smart and diligent. That is selectivity. People tend to select the stimuli which interest them ibid, p.66.
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3 Self-Concept or self-characteristics
People usually make themselves as measurement in perceiving others. The way an individual perceives others’ behaviors and differences depends on the
personal characteristics. A cheerful talkative student may look for her characteristics in the other friend. Thus, when she is asked to choose her group
mates, she tends to look for those who have similar characters with her. Gibson 1985 states that “knowing oneself makes it easier to see others accurately; one’s
own characteristics affects the characteristics identified in others; and persons who accept themselves are more likely to see favorable aspects of other people”
p.67. 4
Situation People’s perception is also influenced by the situation or environment
surrounding them. For colleague students, the deadline of the task, the atmosphere of the class activities, the group mates’ attitudes, the lecturer’s way of lecturing
may influence their perception. The deadline, for instance. Students will do the task quickly when they don’t have enough time. The limitation of time makes
them less careful. Thus, it will affect the result of their work. People who have sufficient amount of time and who don’t will surely have the different perception
about the thing going around them ibid, p.67.
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5 Need
Need and desires are two essential things influencing people’s perception. In responding stimuli, people tend to consider it based on their needs and desires.
In other hand, people tend to “see what they want to see” ibid, p.67. 6
Emotion An individual’s emotional condition has a big influence in perception.
Good emotions, such as joyfulness, cheerfulness, and contentment may produce a good perception toward something as well. Meanwhile, for the people that have
the bad emotions, such as anger, jealousy, disappointment, anxiety, guiltiness, regret, and envy can possibly make people see something negatively ibid, p.68.
c. Aspects in the Perceptual Process Determining People’s Attitudes
