key term - Perceptual Set

Definition

Perceptual set is a psychological term that describes our tendency to perceive some aspects of sensory data and ignore others. It's influenced by our expectations, emotions, and cultural upbringing.

Theoretical Perspectives

Perceptual set theory suggests that our expectations, motivations, emotions, and culture can influence what we perceive. It's grounded in cognitive psychology, emphasizing top-down processing in perception.

Study And Research Findings

Bruner and Minturn (1955) demonstrated perceptual set with ambiguous figures where subjects' perception was biased by previous images. Other studies show context, emotions, and expectations significantly shape perception.

Related terms

Selective attention: This is the process by which we focus on one particular stimulus while ignoring other stimuli.

Confirmation bias: This is a type of cognitive bias where we favor information that confirms our existing beliefs or values.

Schema:

A schema is a mental framework or body of knowledge that organizes and synthesizes information about a person, place or thing. It influences how we perceive new information.