Transcript March 18th, Class #17

Is Perception Really Reality?
(e.g., does PERCEPTION = REALITY?)
Perception : Reality
What’s the Relationship?
Possibilities:
Perception is not Reality
Perception is Reality
Perception might be Reality
Perception : Reality
Perception is NOT Reality
P
R
Perception ≠ Reality
Perception : Reality
Perception is Reality
P
R
Perception = Reality
Perception : Reality
Perception might be Reality
P
R
Perception ~ Reality
General Semantics
(Broadly defined) How we:
Perceive, Construct, Evaluate, and Respond
to our Life Experiences (verbal and non-verbal)
‘Reality’
Abstracting Process
1. Something Happens
(“What Is Going On” - WIGO)
Perceive
2. Sensory, Nervous System
Impact of WIGO
Construct
3. ‘Evaluation’ (‘Report’ of
What Happened)
Evaluate
Feelings
Conclusions
Thoughts Attitudes
‘Meaning’ etc.
Judgments
Reactions Expectations
Behavior
4. ‘Meaning’ of the
‘Evaluation’
Behave/
Communicate
Perception : Reality
Student (Spring 2008)
“After mulling over this idea all weekend, I have come to
the conclusion for myself that I believe perception is not
reality. While we all glimpse reality, we always view it
through a lens that is tinted by our own experiences,
beliefs, values, and what angle we perceive from. As we
have discussed at other points in time throughout the
course of this class, we can never know or see or sense
everything; it’s impossible. Also, it is impossible for us to
not be biased to reality and see it exactly as it is. We are
only able to see one angle of reality, and even that one
angle is tinted, fragmented, and shaped according to us.
Therefore, what we perceive is not reality.”
Perception : Reality
Who benefits from propogating the myth that
Perception = Reality ?
Purveyors of Perceptions:
• Image Mongerers
• Advertisers
• Public Relations Practitioners
• Propagandists
• Public Opinion Manipulators
• Persuaders of all Persuasions