perception

perception
The faculty of acquiring sensory experience. Study of the processes by which we gather and interpret visual information is largely the province of social psychologists, who have identified several general principles (‘laws’) of perception, and also some effects upon it of (among other things) motivation and attention. The former includes the phenomenon of the ‘figure-ground contrast’; that is, how we perceive objects distinctly from their surroundings. This can be studied via so-called projective tests . ‘Constancy’ is also a principle of perception; that is, objects maintain perceptual stability through transformations of various types, such as alterations in size and proportion. The most systematic attempt to study the organization of perceptual phenomena is probably that of the Gestalt (‘form’, ‘figure’, or ‘holistic’) psychologists, who emphasize the role of innate patterning in visual perception, although behaviourist approaches have also been influential, notably in America. See also attitudes ; attribution theory ; cognitive theory.

Dictionary of sociology. 2013.

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  • PERCEPTION — Malgré l’intérêt incessant qu’a suscité l’étude de la perception tout au long de l’histoire de la philosophie occidentale et malgré l’énorme contribution, sur ce sujet, de la psychologie depuis l’époque où celle ci a tenté de se définir comme… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Perception — Per*cep tion, n. [L. perceptio: cf. F. perception. See {Perceive}.] 1. The act of perceiving; cognizance by the senses or intellect; apperhension by the bodily organs, or by the mind, of what is presented to them; discernment; apperhension;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perception — Perception. s. f. Recepte, recouvrement en matiere de deniers, fruits, revenus &c. Il est commis à la perception d un tel droit. il est obligé de rendre compte du revenu de cet heritage aprés la perception des fruits. Perception. En matiere de… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • perception — per‧cep‧tion [pəˈsepʆn ǁ pər ] noun [countable] the way that people feel about a company, product, market etc and what they think it is like: • There is a perception among investors that an economic recovery is beginning. • National stereotypes… …   Financial and business terms

  • Perception — steht für: Perzeption, Gesamtheit der Vorgänge des Wahrnehmens bezeichnet. Perception (Film), US amerikanisches Filmdrama aus dem Jahr 2005 Perception Kayaks, einen Kanuhersteller, siehe Confluence Watersports #Perception …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • perception — late 15c., receiving, collection, from L. perceptionem (nom. perceptio) perception, apprehension, a taking, from percipere perceive (see PERCEIVE (Cf. perceive)). First used in the more literal sense of the Latin word; in secondary sense, the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • perception — I noun ability to make distinctions, acuity, acumen, acuteness, apperception, appraisal, appreciation, apprehension, ascertainment, assessment, astuteness, attention, awareness, clear sight, cleverness, cognition, cognizance, comprehension,… …   Law dictionary

  • perception — penetration, insight, acumen, *discernment, discrimination Analogous words: appreciation, comprehension, understanding (see corresponding verbs at UNDERSTAND): sharpness, keenness, acuteness (see corresponding adjectives at SHARP) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • perception — [n] understanding, idea acumen, apprehending, apprehension, approach, attention, attitude, awareness, big idea*, brainchild*, brain wave*, conceit, concept, conception, consciousness, discernment, feeling, flash, grasp, image, impression, insight …   New thesaurus

  • perception — ► NOUN 1) the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. 2) the process of perceiving. 3) a way of understanding or interpreting something. 4) intuitive understanding and insight. ORIGIN Latin, from percipere seize,… …   English terms dictionary

  • perception — [pər sep′shən] n. [L perceptio < pp. of percipere: see PERCEIVE] 1. a) the act of perceiving or the ability to perceive; mental grasp of objects, qualities, etc. by means of the senses; awareness; comprehension b) insight or intuition, or the… …   English World dictionary

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