Definition of Perception Perception

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c. Factors Influencing Perception

As described by Altman et al. 1985, there are four important factors influencing an individual’s perception. They are: 1 selection of stimuli, 2 organization of stimuli, 3 the situation, and 4 the person’s self-concept. 1 Selection of Stimuli A person focuses only on a small number of all stimuli which he or she is surrounded. This process is known as selection. Each individual specific cues and filters, or screens, out the others Altman et al., 1985. The same situation or stimuli may produce very different reactions or behaviors because each individual has his or her own unique filter. That is why an individual can perceive their life differently. The way people select the stimuli are influenced by various external and internal factors. The external factors come from outside environmental influences such as intensity, size, contrast, repetition, motion, novelty and familiarity. Whereas, the internal factors come from individual’s complex psychology makeup. People will select the stimuli or situations from environment with their learning, motivation, and personality. 2 Organization of Stimuli A second factor which is influencing perceptions is organization. After the information has been selected, it must be arranged in order to become meaningful. This second factor of influencing perception focuses on what takes place in the perceptual process when the information from the situation is 16 received. Therefore, the mind tries to bring order out of the unarranged sensory data by selecting certain items and putting them together in a meaningful way based on experience Altman et al., 1985. Therefore, the arrangement of stimuli affects people’s perceptions. 3 The Situation Another factor influencing perception is the situation. Altman et al. 1985 state that the way people perceive life can be affected from their expectation, situation, and past experience. Moreover, George Jones 2005 state that perceivers’ experience or knowledge schemas needs and desires motivational states filter information into their perception. It can also be said that what a person perceives i s affected by the person’s familiarity and expectations about situation. Perceiving accurately is related to how well a person adjusts his or her behavior to a situation Altman et al., 1985. It can be concluded that the situation consists of the internal factors which affects the perceivers in processing their perception. 4 Self-Concept A fourth factor which was influencing perceptions is the self-concept. The self-concept is the way individual feels about and perceives himself. The way people see themselves affects people’s perception on the world around them. Altman et al., 1985 claim that the self-concept is important since the mental picture of people determine much of what they perceive and do.