Applied Psychology for Nurses Definitions * Perception is the experience of objects, events or relationships obtained by extracting information from and inter- preting sensations. —JH Jackson, 0 Desiderato and DB Howieson (1976) Perception is an individual's awareness aspect of behavior, for it is the way each person processes the raw data he receives from the environment into meaningful pattems. RE Silverman (1976) PRINCIPLES OF PERCEPTION RCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION) ‘When we perceive the world there are many different stimuli coming in at the same time. Individuals tend to organize these stimuli into a meaningful pattern or whole according to certain principles. These principles try to ‘explain when and how our minds perceive different visual components as being part ‘of the same group. The principles explained below are a combination of those proposed originally by Max Wertheimer (1923), Stephen Palmer (1999, 2002), and other contemporary Gestalt theorists (Figure 6.1). 1Principleof Figure-ground Relationship According to principle of figure-ground relationship, a figure is perceived in relation Figure 6.1: Principles of perception ship to its background. The perception of, object or figure in terms of color, size, sh, and intensity, ete. depends upon the fig, ground relationship. We perceive a fin, against a background oF background ay: fa figure dependingupon the characteristic, the perceiver as well asthe relative strensr\ the figure or ground. A proper figure-gr° relationship is quite important from the » ‘of perception of the figure or the grov case where such relationship does not « 198 ambiguity in terms of: wea ie Se) perception. ( Sensory experiences other than v experiences may also be perceived as fy and ground. Sometimes, when eq balanced qualities are present in va parts within the general field of aware there could bea conflict resulting in form ‘of two or more figures. In such a case | will bea shifting of the ground and the fis. One part may be the ground at one me and at the next moment the ground become the figure. In this picture eithe: black faces or the white vase may become figure. Moreover it is impossible to per both figure and background at the same (Figure 6.2). 2. Principle of Grouping According to Gestalt principle, objects « be perceived meaningfully when they» BS Figure 6.2: Figure-ground relationshi?o lines each and not six ‘Thereisatendency abjects ofa similar size and asa unit or figure. In Figure ertical columns of circles uity: Any stimulus in the same direction sived as a whole, Our d more by continuous n discontinuous ones. ee a curved line and do not see a straight mi-circles above and While confronting an one tends to complete or fill in sensory gaps meaningful whole. This, is extremely helpful in ¢ interpretation of various ects, patterns or stimuli onment. ‘he lines well be perceived as a metry: Objects having shape are perceived as ample, brackets of different Principle of similarity; () Principle of continuity (0) Principle of closure; (E) Principle of symmetry 4, Principle of Contrast Perceptual organization is much affected through contrast effects as the stimuli that are in sharp contrast to nearby stimuli may draw ‘our maximum attention and carry different perceptual affects. For example, in Figure 6.44 and B the surrounding circles in Figure 6.44 make the central circle seem larger than the central circle in Figure 6.4B even though the two are ofthe same size. 5, Principle of Adaptability ‘The perceptual organization for some stimuli depends upon the adaptability of the perceiver to perceive sale saul An pe i ie to work before a ean nm ko quite dim.areas ofthe brain. For example, ifthe dion, area is destroyed we eannot have auditoy perception. Memory Images of the Past Experience Memory images help usin the comprehension, ofthe objector stimulus before us. General, perception involves the integration of sensory Experience in the light of past experience ang present psychological conditions. Experimeng, Figures 64and’:mincoleoteonmst ye shawnthat whenever we comein cong with new stimuli we are inclined t0 interpre FACTORS AFFECTING PERCEPTION __ them in terms of our experiences with similar ‘There are individual differences in perceptual stimuli in the past. For example, a child hay abilities, Two people may perceive the comein contact with a horse for the first time. same stimulus differently. Factors affecting j4e has already seen a cow. When he is asked Deroeptior ae ea what it (horse) is, he may say itis a Cow or like acow. Sense Organs Perception depends upon the sense organs Personal Interests and Mind Set ‘or receptors on which the stimuli act and We perceive those concerning our interes, the sensory neurons that transmit the nerve _ttitudes, motives, expectations and mins current from the receptors to the sensory quickly and clearly. Our acquired interes. area of the brain. For example, if cones are also determine the object or objects which not developed in the retina, color cannot be we perceive. A person who has a hob) of perceived. collecting stamps will quickly notice any new ‘stamp on alletter. Brain Perception depends upon the functioning capacity of both the sensory and association Needs and Desires Our needs or desires also modify perceptions. Besides these our belicts opinions and cultural ideals also modity our perception of things, situations and objec's Nature of the Stimuli In addition to the above functional facto structural factors that affect perceptio" are nature of physical stimuli such as si? background, novelty, motion and proxi" of the stimuli and their arrangements an‘ tht neural effects they evoke in the nervous sy" of the individual, Situational Factors The context in which we see obj¢<" may influence our perception. 1h**" factors include time of the day, soci! ® Figure 6.5: Factors affecting perception organizational setting.actors 2p! and siz i ctory and gustatory. j of ‘can cause inaccurate top toy 2, Inadequate stimulus: Our receptors may not be stimulated adequately if SnBem iden ee k errors creep into Avery weak i : — = ws 3. Too many stimuli at one time: When. “ too many stimuli are present at one given time, perceiving each stimul ilus separately interpretation of a isdifficult. For example, in the presence of goes wrong, it gives loud noises it may be difficult to perceive orillesion For, We callofa patient. 4, Poor health: Sense organs cannot function correctly and adequately as a result of illness. For this reason perceptions of patients may be inaccurate. 5, Limited attention: If we try to apprehend Reece Poe ne en eee time, we are ; tance ofthe object ne to have an inaccurate perception. : ch perceifie Figure merges in the ground: Some- ee : times objects are perceived with difficulty liin the environment, our be the ible thei ti eee scrancy yecause they resemble their surroundings. ms aout For example, a white patch is difficult to nation isidentified detect on a white wall. ‘he nurse learns or errors of perception. to perceive signs of illness or wellness in yn that occurs patients only when she learns what these ‘of any corresponding —_signsare. 7, Guidance: Perception is inaccurate when we do not know what to perceive. ang eng, Magy "Dre, nil ji ig that is not seen oF around him. An alcoholic elephants, a paranoid jncelligence ts the general capacity for Tear voices, experience — comprehension and reasoning that manifests he absence of any sensory itself in various Way Tt consists of an Hallucinations are more individual's mental or cognitive ability which ly ill people. helps the person in solving his actual life the sensory modality problems ‘and leading a happy and well- sPovrience different types of contended life example, visual, aUdKOY per iwiTIONS i gota “e ntelligence is the aggregate © ec capacity ofan individual's thinkrationally, fit purposefully and deal effectively with the environment. _wechsler (1944) i he the ability to mastet | ind skills needed (© succeed myopia, 4 . cae ae ae