Perceptual set – Influences on our interpretation of visual information.
Perceptual set is the predisposition, or ‘readiness’, to perceive something in accordance with that we expect it to be. There are several factors that can influence the perceptual set. Most involve characteristics of the perceiver, or what is being perceived under what conditions. Characteristics of the perceiver that influence our perceptual set include: Motivation, context, emotional state, past experience and cultural background.
Motivation:
Motivation refers to processes within us which activate behaviour that we direct towards achieving a particular goal. For example many football supporters will arrive at a game with a perceptual set established by their motivation to see their team win. Emotional State: Our emotional state, how we are feeling, can also influence the way in which we perceive visual information. Different emotions can ‘set’ us to perceive information in a particular way which is consistent with the emotion being experienced. For example a child who is afraid of being in their darkened bedroom may interpret the shadow of their dressing gown hanging on the back of the bedroom door as a ghost, or the teddy bear sitting on the end of the bed as a monster. |
Context:
Context refers to the setting or environment in which a perception is made. When organizing and interpreting visual information, we take account of the setting and pay more attention to those aspects of the setting that are immediately relevant. For example if you saw a fast moving light in the sky, you would interpret it differently based on your surroundings. Central Australia, a war zone, New Years Eve? Past experience: Past experience refers to our personal experiences throughout our lives, this includes everything we learn through experience, both intentially and unintentially. Our unique combination of past experiences can lead to many individual differences in perception. Such experiences also predispose, or ‘set’ us to perceive information in a particular way. |
Cultural Background (Factors):
Culture refers to the way of life of a particular community or group that sets it apart from other communities and large groups.
For example People of the Malawi from Tasmania.
Before the Malawi people had access to photographs, a group of them were shown a black and white photograph of a dog. Despite the fact that many of the observers owned dogs or had experience with dogs, they were unable to identify the subject of the photograph as a dog. Even when the various features of the dog such as the head, ears and tail were pointed out to them, many of the Malawi people still had difficulty interpreting the photograph as a dog and, in some cases, the specific features of the dog, such as the paws and tail.
Culture refers to the way of life of a particular community or group that sets it apart from other communities and large groups.
For example People of the Malawi from Tasmania.
Before the Malawi people had access to photographs, a group of them were shown a black and white photograph of a dog. Despite the fact that many of the observers owned dogs or had experience with dogs, they were unable to identify the subject of the photograph as a dog. Even when the various features of the dog such as the head, ears and tail were pointed out to them, many of the Malawi people still had difficulty interpreting the photograph as a dog and, in some cases, the specific features of the dog, such as the paws and tail.