Page 1 - Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes

Class XI

Chap 5

Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes

Lesson Notes

Module 3

PERCEPTUAL PROCESSES

The process by which we recognise, interpret or give meaning to the information
provided by sense organs is called perception. In interpreting stimuli or events,
individuals often construct them in their own ways. Thus perception is not merely an

interpretation of objects or events of the external or internal world as they exist, instead
it is also a construction of those objects and events from one’s own point of view.
PROCESSING APPROACHES IN PERCEPTION

1. The idea that recognition process begins from the parts, which serve as the basis
for the recognition of the whole is known as bottom-up processing. The bottom-
up approach lays emphasis on the features of stimuli in perception, and considers
perception as a process of mental construction.
2. The notion that recognition process begins from the whole, which leads to

identification of its various components is known as top-down processing. The
top-down approach lays emphasis on the perceiver, and considers perception as a
process of recognition or identification of stimuli.

Studies show that in perception both the processes interact with each other to provide us
with an understanding of the world.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE PERCEIVER

a) Motivation
1. The needs and desires of a perceiver strongly influence her/his perception.
2. Experiments were conducted to examine the influence of hunger on
perception.