English Teachers Research Benefits

8 Perception is a cognitive process which lets people to interpret and understand surroundings as stated by Kreitner and Kinicki 2007, p. 207. Figure 2.1 The Perceptual Process Altman et al, 1985, p.86 Based on Figure 2.1, perceptions occur because of stimuli. Then, the sensors‟ selection of stimuli will respond and create perception, organization, and interpretation of stimuli to be behavioral response. The theory above is supported by Gibson, Ivaneceivh, and Donnely 2006, p. 99 who define perception as a process involving receive, organize, and interpret the stimuli. Therefore, perception is the way people look or understand something from their own views Mouly, 1973. They believe what they see and they see what they believe. The perception of people will be different from one to another. However, it is not something bad. The difference of point of view is true since people have their own opinion to see thing from their own perceptive. Perception, organization, and interpretation of stimuli Se nsors‟ selection of stimuli Stimuli Behavioral response 9 Altman, Valenzi, and Hadgetss 1985 state that there are four factors that influence perception; there are selection of stimuli, organization of stimuli, situation, and self-concept.

a. Selection of Stimuli

This stage is when a person selects and perceives things differently. The person will only focus on a small number of stimuli. This is the reason why people have different way to perceive things.

b. Organization of Stimuli

After the information is gathered, the brain has to organize the information to be meaningful. The mind tries to order the unarranged data by selecting certain data and putting them together.

c. Situation

According to Altman et al 1985, p. 89 the situation which influences someone to perceive can be in a form of someone‟s familiarity with, expectations about, a situation, as well as his or her past experiences. Therefore, perception is affected by the experience and situation around.

d. Self-concept

Self-concept means the way a person feels or looks herhimself. The image of us is important to help people to look things outside. When people become stabile, people has self-