Definition of perception Perception
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3 The Situation
Another factor influencing perception is situation. The background knowledge or past experience of someone will help people to understand the
situation. If people are familiar with the information that they obtain they will interpret and absorb easily. For example, a fresh graduate bachelor who has no
experience in working world would find difficulties to adapt with new atmosphere. They often find difficulties in the work time and rules compared to
their behavior in college.
4 Self-concept
According to Altman et al. 1985: 90, self-concept is the way people know and understand about themselves. Self-concept is very important for us
because it will influence us in perceiving or doing something. However, individual self-concept changes in line with the growth of the person.
Those are four main factors influencing perception according to Altman et al., Gibson et al. 1985: 64-67 adds three other factors influencing people
perception. They are:
1 Stereotyping
Stereotyping is one of the factors that can influence perception. Altman et al, 1985: 91, state that
“stereotyping is the process of categorizing people or things based on a
limited amount of information”. The limited information can be from family, society, or from books that influence people in drawing conclusion.
People who live in a small town will perceive that working in a big town is more
15 prestigious than working in a small town. Stereotyping is a kind of judgment and
it helps the decision maker simplifies the situation.
2 Needs
Perception is also influenced by needs. It means that people will see or understand something if they want to really see it. People must have positive
perception if they need something. For example, there is a student who really wants to get a scholarship to study abroad. One of the requirements is having the
ability to speak English fluently. However, she is not into English. In order to fulfill the requirement, she has to practice her English everyday and try to like
English.
3 Emotion
Strong emotion may change perception. For example, when a student hates math, she or he will create negative perception toward math. She or he will
perceive that math is difficult so that she or he is not motivated to learn it.