Introduction to Psychology 1

Sensation and Perception

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Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion4

The Physical and Psychological Factors Affecting Sensations4

The Factors Affecting Perception6

Internal Factors Influencing the Perception7

Desire and Needs of the Individual7

Personality of the Individual7

Experience of the Individual8

External Factors Influencing the Perception8

Size of the Stimuli8

Intensity of the Stimuli8

Frequency of the Stimuli9

Status9

Contrast of the Stimuli9

Conclusion10

Sensation and Perception

Introduction

Sensation is defined as a perception linked with body condition of specific type, or the stimulation of sense organs. It is an awareness of the emotional and mental state, which might or might not result in a response to outside stimuli. There is a point of absolute threshold, when an individual feels the slightest sound or touch, and things become noticeable, anything less than the threshold point goes unnoticed and unattended.

The process of perception is well defined by the theory of Gestalt. According to the theory a whole is better perceived than its parts. Perception is defined as giving meaning to the sensations. However, both the terms sensation and perception are often used interchangeably (Blake, 2006, pp 235).

Sensations are the inert process of transporting information from the outside world into the brain and body. In a process of sensing the information, an individual need not be consciously engaged in the process. While perception is the active process of choosing, classifying and decoding the information transported to the brain by the senses.

Sensation takes place, when the energy is absorbed from the physical stimulus in the surroundings by the sense organs. This energy is converted by the sensory organs into neural impulse and transmits them to the brain. Then, the information is organized and translated by the brain into something meaningful.

However, all the information that is sensed is not interpreted by the brain, but it selectively attends some information which is considered important. This process is known as selective attention. The process involves discrimination between relevant and irrelevant information, which is influenced by motivation. The information which is intriguing for the individual is attended and interpreted (Goldstein, 2002, pp.n.d).

The way an individual perceives and interprets the information is based on his/her past experiences, biological makeup and culture. For example: An American might look at the highway and expects trucks and cars, not aero planes, but another individual from another country with different history and experiences might not have a notion of what to expect and therefore, get stunned by seeing cars go driving by.

Another example would be; that an individual looking at the painting might not understand the meaning being conveyed in the painting, but if he is told by someone about it, he might start noticing it.

The translation of physical stimuli into the psychological experience is called psychophysics. The process of sensation and perception may be affected by a number of factors. The factors are both; internal and external. Noise, vision, motivation, physical well-being of an individual, taste buds, skin, body position of the individual , and proximity, continuity, closure, similarity, common fate or grouped together elements, perceptual constancies and closure of the stimuli, all ...