What is Perception?

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Perception

Perception is the mind’s way of taking in information through the senses and turning it into an understandable picture of “what’s going on.” It is how sights, sounds, smells, touches, and tastes are organised so a person can make sense of the world and respond to it.​

What perception is

In plain English, perception is not just sensing something; it is how the brain interprets what is sensed, like recognising a shape as a dog or a sound as a friend’s voice. It acts as a filter between outside reality and inner experience, so two people can perceive the same event differently.​

How perception works day to day

Perception starts when something in the environment stimulates the senses, then the brain groups and interprets those signals using past experiences, expectations, and current mood. This is why perception can be helpful and fast, but also biased or mistaken, leading people to mishear, mis-see, or misjudge situations.

Further Reading​