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a. Definitions of Perception
The definition of perception can be derived from some sources. . According to Kreitner and Kinicki 1992: 26, perception is a mental and
cognitive process that enables us to interpret and understand our surroundings. It means that perception may exist as our responses to our surrounding. Another
definition of perception is stated by Leontiev 1981: 31. Leontiev defines perception as the process in which the existence of the objects and phenomena is
reflected in a person’s consciousness. The process happens with the help of the person’s sensory organs, namely: eyes, ears, tongue, nose, and skin. Leontiev’s
statement means that a person may perceive objects, surroundings, and events or occurrence around him or her consciously by the help of sensory organs.
Haire 1956, cited by Leontiev 1981: 31 states that perception is a process in which the individual recognizes information, fits the information, and
compares the information with the previous one which is stored in the person’s memory. Haire’s statement means that a person, after receiving the stimuli, will
identify the stimuli. He or she then will recall his or her memory whether he or she has already received the same stimuli or not. If he or she has already received
the stimuli before, he or she will recognize the stimuli. The stimuli may be in form of information. The person then matches the information, and compares the
information with the previous information. Gibson, Ivancevich, and Donnelly 1973: 216 state that perception is an activity which employs us in everyday of
our lives. The perception is a set of factors which influence the motivational state of people in organization. The definition of perception stated by Gibson et. al
means that perception influences a person’s motivation in his or her surroundings. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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Another point of view about perception comes from Forgus 1966: 1. Forgus defines perception as the process of information extraction. It means that
perception is the process where the information is filtered or selected. Altman, Valenzi, and Hodgetts 1985: 85 add that perception is the way stimuli are
selected and grouped by a person in such a way that the stimuli can be meaningfully interpreted see figure 1. Furthermore, Altman et. al state that
perception is how a person views reality. The way a person views the reality depends on how the information that is available organized.
After knowing some definitions of perception, in the following discussion the writer will discuss how perception arise in someone’s mind.
b. The Perceptual Process
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