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Perception and Critical Thinking: 2 Thinking Influences

The process of forming judgments and opinions involves using evidence and logic, which are common to both perception and critical thinking. Perception is the way we interpret information received through our senses from the environment, while critical thinking involves analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information from different sources. Perception can affect critical thinking by influencing the way we select, organize, and interpret the information that we encounter.

Sanju Pradeepa

You rely on your senses and brain to perceive and make sense of the world around you, but how often do you stop to consider how your own perceptions and thought processes actually work? Understanding your these abilities is vital to navigating life effectively. How you perceive and think critically about information directly impacts the choices you make, the relationships you have, and your overall well-being and success.

This article will explore how your senses, experiences, beliefs, and biases shape your perception of reality. You’ll gain insights into common thinking traps and logical fallacies that often distort your reasoning. And you’ll pick up practical techniques for sharpening your critical thinking through questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence objectively, and considering alternative perspectives.

Perception and critical thinking are life skills that require continuous development and practice. Make the effort to understand them, and you’ll be rewarded with a more accurate view of the world, better decision-making, and a deeper understanding of all areas of your life.

Table of Contents

What is perception.

Perception refers to how you interpret the world around you through your senses. How you perceive things depends a lot on your beliefs , experiences, culture, values, preferences, and biases. In other words, perception is subjective and shaped by many factors.

Your senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—are how you receive and process information from the environment. However, your senses alone don’t determine how you perceive things. Your brain also relies on context, memory, and expectations to interpret the information it receives.

For example, if you hear a loud bang in the middle of the night, you may perceive it as threatening because you expect the nighttime environment to be quiet and safe. The same loud bang during the day likely wouldn’t alarm you. Your perception depends heavily on the context.

Your perceptions can also be influenced by your beliefs and biases. For instance, if you believe a certain group of people tend to be untrustworthy , you may perceive individuals from that group in a more negative light, even if there is no objective evidence to support that view.

In summary, perception is a complex process. The world around us is filled with an infinite amount of information, so we tend to organize and interpret it subjectively based on what matters most to us. Understanding how perception works can help us gain insight into ourselves and others. It may also help us become aware of our biases so we can perceive things more openly and accurately.

Is Perception Subjective OR Objective: The Debate Continues

Factors that influence our perception.

The way we perceive the world around us is influenced by many factors. Our past experiences, biases, culture, beliefs, and environment all shape how we interpret information and events.

Past experiences

What we’ve gone through in life impacts how we see new things. If something reminds us of a past painful experience, we may perceive it more negatively. Positive associations from the past can make us view something in a more favorable light. Our experiences cause us to develop expectations about the world, which then influence our perceptions.

Biases and prejudices

The preconceptions and prejudices we hold sway how we perceive people and situations. Confirmation bias leads us to notice and accept information that confirms what we already believe while ignoring anything that contradicts our views. Stereotyping causes us to perceive people as having certain attributes based only on their social group. These prejudices distort our perceptions and make it hard to see things objectively.

Cultural influences

The culture we live in shapes our beliefs and behaviors, which then impact how we perceive the world. Those from individualistic cultures may focus more on personal goals and independence, while those from collectivistic cultures emphasize community and relationships. Our cultural values and norms provide a lens through which we interpret everything around us.

With awareness of these factors, we can work to expand our perspectives and improve our critical thinking skills. Examining our assumptions and the effects of our biases helps us perceive things more openly and objectively. Broadening our experiences and exposing ourselves to diverse cultures and ideas also helps create a more balanced view of the world.

How Our Perceptions Shape Our Reality

Our perceptions shape how we view and interpret the world around us. The way we perceive reality depends on several factors:

• Our beliefs and expectations: We tend to perceive what we already believe or expect to see. For example, if you believe that spiders are dangerous, you are more likely to perceive a spider you encounter as threatening, even if it’s harmless.
• Our biases and prejudices: The biases and stereotypes we hold can distort our perception of people and events. For instance, if you have a prejudice against a particular group, you may perceive members of that group in an unfairly negative light.
• Our emotional state: How we feel can influence what we perceive. When we’re fearful or anxious, we may perceive threats that aren’t actually there. When we’re happy, the world may seem brighter and more positive.
• Our senses—what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste—provide the raw data for our perceptions. If one of our senses is impaired or limited, it can alter our perception of reality. For example, a blind or deaf person will have a very different perception of the world than a person with full sensory ability.

In summary, our perceptions are shaped by many psychological and sensory factors. We must be aware of how these influences can distort our view of reality and affect our critical thinking and judgment. By recognizing our own biases and limitations, we can gain a more accurate perception of the world and make better decisions.

Motivated Perception: Why We See What We Want to See

Common perceptual distortions and biases.

Our perception of the world around us is shaped by many factors, including some common biases and distortions. Be aware of these tendencies in yourself and others to improve critical thinking.

Confirmation bias

We tend to search for and favor information that confirms what we already believe. Make an effort to also seek out information that contradicts your preexisting views. Consider other perspectives with an open mind.

Anchoring bias

We rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive, known as the “anchor,” and fail to sufficiently adjust our views in light of subsequent information. Be willing to consider each new piece of information objectively rather than comparing it only to your anchor.

Dunning-Kruger effect

When we lack knowledge or expertise in a particular area, we tend to overestimate our own competence. The less you know, the less aware you are of how much you have yet to learn. Seek out opportunities to expand your knowledge through reading, taking a course, or finding a mentor.

Bandwagon effect

We tend to believe or do things simply because others do. Resist the urge to go along with popular opinion or bandwagons,” and instead evaluate the facts and your own views objectively. Just because “everyone else” believes something does not necessarily make it true.

What Causes Cognitive Distortions: 8 Distortions Behind Them

Being aware of common biases and perceptual distortions is an important step toward improving your critical thinking. Make an effort to consider information objectively, seek out alternative perspectives, and base your judgments on facts rather than preconceptions. With practice, you can overcome these tendencies and develop sharper, more independent thinking.

Critical Thinking Skills: What Are They?

Critical thinking skills are vital in all areas of life. They allow you to analyze information objectively and form your own evaluations and interpretations. Some key critical thinking skills include:

• Observation: Paying close attention to details and gathering information through the senses Observe the world around you and notice subtle details.
• Analysis: Examining information or arguments in a logical, systematic way Break down information into parts to understand it fully. Look for evidence, logical flaws or weaknesses, and alternative interpretations.
• Interpretation: Giving meaning to observations, experiences, information, or arguments Try to understand the significance of the information and how it relates to the overall topic or issue.
• Inference: Drawing conclusions based on observations and analysis Make educated guesses about implications, consequences, outcomes, or the meaning of incomplete information. Inferring allows you to make predictions.
• Evaluation: Assessing the credibility, accuracy, and value of information, arguments, or methods Determine strengths and weaknesses, look for bias, and consider alternative perspectives. Evaluate the evidence and arguments objectively.
• Explanation: Providing a clear and coherent rationale or justification for an argument, conclusion, or outcome Explain your reasoning and thinking process to others in a logical, step-by-step manner.
• Problem-solving : Using critical thinking skills to solve complex problems in a systematic, logical way Identify the problem, gather information, evaluate options, and determine the best solution based on the available evidence. Consider obstacles and their ethical implications.

Developing strong critical thinking skills takes practice. Challenge yourself to think critically about information and arguments, ask probing questions, consider alternative perspectives, and avoid biases and logical fallacies. With regular practice, critical thinking can become second nature.

7 Types of Critical Thinking: A Guide to Analyzing Problems

The order to form a judgement through critical thinking.

Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. It is a crucial skill that allows you to think clearly and rationally about what to believe or what to do. Developing your critical thinking skills takes effort and practice.

1. Identify your biases and assumptions.

We all have implicit biases and make assumptions that can influence our thinking. Try to identify your biases and assumptions about the issue. Think about how they might impact your judgment. Try to put them aside and be open-minded.

2. Gather relevant information.

Do some research to determine the facts and evidence related to the issue. Look at a variety of reputable sources to get a full, objective understanding of the issue. Consider alternative perspectives and opinions, not just the ones you already agree with.

3. Evaluate the arguments and evidence.

Once you have information from multiple sources, evaluate the quality of the evidence and arguments. Determine if there are any logical flaws or weaknesses. Look for facts and evidence that contradict or challenge your beliefs. Try to stay objective and rational, not emotional .

4 . Draw a reasoned conclusion.

After evaluating the evidence and arguments, you can draw a logical, well-reasoned conclusion. Your conclusion should be based on factual evidence, not just your preexisting opinions or biases. Be willing to accept a conclusion that differs from what you originally believed.

Critical thinking is a vital skill that takes conscious effort to develop and apply. But with regular practice, you can strengthen your ability to think clearly and logically, even about complex and controversial issues. Applying critical thinking leads to better decision-making and helps create a more just, equitable, and progressive society.

Critical Thinking and Non-Critical Thinking: Key Differences

The relationship between perception and critical thinking.

They are deeply intertwined. How you perceive the world around you shapes your thinking, and your thinking influences what you perceive. Understanding this relationship allows you to strengthen both skills.

Your perceptions are formed by experiences, beliefs, values, biases, and logical reasoning. The more self-aware you are of what influences your perceptions, the better able you are to evaluate them critically. Some techniques that can help include:

• Check for evidence that confirms and disproves your perceptions. Weigh them objectively.
• Look for alternative explanations and interpretations. Don’t assume your initial perception is the only one.
• Consider the context and circumstances surrounding your perceptions. Are there factors that could be distorting your views?
• Examine if there are any personal biases or preconceptions affecting your perceptions. Work to overcome them.
• Ask probing questions to evaluate the accuracy and validity of your perceptions. Look at the issue from multiple angles.
• Discuss your perceptions with others to gain new insights. Be open to learning from different viewpoints.
• Practice empathy by trying to perceive situations from other perspectives than your own. Put yourself in other people’s shoes.

Critical thinking involves analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and improving your thinking. When you apply critical thinking to your perceptions, you strengthen both skills in a virtuous cycle. Your perceptions become sharper and keener, feeding your critical thinking.

And your critical thinking helps shape perceptions that are more discerning and insightful. Together, perception and critical thinking are powerful combinations for understanding yourself and the world around you.

The Synergy of Perception and Critical Thinking in Personal Development

To develop yourself personally and professionally , improving both your skills are key. These cognitive abilities work together synergistically to help you gain valuable insights and make better judgments.

Perception refers to how you observe and understand the world around you through your senses. It involves noticing details, interpreting what you see and hear, and understanding the context. The more perceptive you are, the better you can assess situations accurately. Some ways to strengthen your perception include:

• Paying close attention to details and your surroundings. Notice subtle cues like body language, tone of voice , and small changes in your environment.
• Avoiding distractions and being fully present in the moment Give people and tasks your full focus.
• Looking at situations from multiple perspectives. Try to understand other points of view, not just your own.

Critical thinking means analyzing information objectively and making reasoned judgments. It enables you to evaluate arguments and ideas in a logical, unbiased way. To improve your critical thinking:

• Question assumptions and opinions. Consider the evidence and facts, not just beliefs.
• Look for logical flaws and biases. Watch out for emotional appeals, ad hominem attacks, and close-minded thinking.
• Consider alternative explanations and solutions. Don’t just accept the most obvious answer. Look for creative options.

By honing your perception and critical thinking, you can gain a more accurate understanding of yourself and the world. You’ll make wiser choices and decisions, build better relationships, and continue learning and developing new skills. Keep practicing, and these cognitive abilities will become second nature.

How Critical Thinking Complements and Enhances Perception

Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue or situation to form a judgment. It complements perception, our sensory experience of the world around us, by enabling us to logically analyze the information we receive through our senses. Together, perception and critical thinking allow us to make sense of the world in an insightful, pragmatic way.

Some key ways critical thinking enhances perception include :

• Evaluating evidence . We perceive a lot of information, but critical thinking helps us determine what evidence is most relevant and credible. We can assess the accuracy, reliability, and validity of what we perceive.
• Identifying assumptions . Our perceptions are influenced by our assumptions, biases, and preconceptions. Critical thinking helps us recognize and evaluate these assumptions to gain a more balanced perspective.
• Considering alternative interpretation s It’s easy to accept what we perceive at face value, but critical thinking pushes us to consider other ways of understanding the information. We can generate alternative hypotheses and explanations.
• Applying logical reasoning While perception relies on our senses, critical thinking relies on logic and reasoning. We can apply logical principles like deduction and induction to draw well-reasoned conclusions from what we perceive.
• Questioning and reflecting Critical thinking fosters an inquisitive mindset. We learn to habitually question and reflect on our perceptions, asking probing questions to gain deeper insight and understanding. Questioning and reflecting lead to a more thoughtful perspective.
• Gaining a broader perspective It helps us consider the wider context surrounding what we perceive. We can incorporate different points of view and relate new information to a broader framework of knowledge. This results in a balanced, well-informed perspective.

In summary, critical thinking and perception work together to shape how we understand ourselves and the world. Our senses may perceive, but our minds must think critically about that perception to gain wisdom. Critical thinking turns the raw materials of perception into knowledge and insight.

Building Resilience and Emotional Intelligence through Perception and Critical Thinking

To build resilience and emotional intelligence, it’s important to understand how perception and critical thinking work. Our perceptions are shaped by many factors, including:

• Our beliefs and experiences: What we already believe or have experienced can shape what we perceive in the present.
• Emotions: Feeling anxious, afraid, or upset can influence what we perceive and how we think about it.
• Biases: We all have implicit biases that can distort our perceptions and judgments.
• Selective attention: We can’t possibly take in all the information around us, so we selectively attend to certain details while ignoring others.

Developing strong critical thinking skills helps overcome the limitations and distortions in our perceptions. Some tips for improving your critical thinking include:

• Consider alternative perspectives. Try to understand how others may perceive the same situation differently. Ask open-ended questions to gain new insights. Seek out balanced and objective analyses of issues.
• Evaluate the evidence and arguments. Look for logical flaws, false assumptions, and inconsistencies. Consider the credibility and possible biases of the sources. Try to determine the accuracy and relevance of key facts.
• Challenge your own beliefs and assumptions. We often don’t recognize our own biases and preconceptions. Make the effort to question why you believe what you believe and look for evidence that contradicts your views. Remain open to other ways of thinking.
• Draw reasonable conclusions. Avoid making hasty generalizations or interpretations that are not well supported by evidence. Consider alternative explanations and hypotheses. Make sure your conclusions logically follow from the evidence and arguments.

Building perception and critical thinking skills is a lifelong endeavor, but one that is essential for success and well-being. With regular practice, these cognitive abilities can become habits of an intelligent and thoughtful mind.

Types of Resilience: Building Strength for Life’s Challenges

The impact of perception and critical thinking on relationships.

They have a significant impact on your relationships. How you perceive yourself and others, as well as your ability to think critically about social interactions, determines the quality and depth of your connections.

Self-Perception

The way you view yourself directly influences how you engage in relationships. If you have a negative self-image , you may come across as insecure, jealous, or needy to others. Work to develop a balanced and compassionate view of yourself. Learn to appreciate your own strengths, values, and accomplishments. When you feel good about who you are, you can build mutually supportive relationships based on trust and understanding.

Perception of Others

How you perceive people also shapes your relationships. If you make overly critical judgments about others or generalize their behaviors, you may miss opportunities to connect. Try to see others with an open and curious mind. Look for their positive qualities and the humanity you share. Ask clarifying questions instead of making assumptions. With a more generous perception of people, you can build healthier and happier relationships .

Critical Thinking

Your ability to think critically about social interactions impacts relationships too. Strong critical thinking skills allow you to better understand complex relationship dynamics, set appropriate boundaries, and resolve conflicts in constructive ways. Examine the reasons behind others’ behaviors before reacting. Look for compromise and common ground. Consider each person’s perspective, needs, and concerns. When you can think critically about your relationships, you are able to navigate challenges in a thoughtful, principled manner.

In summary, developing a balanced self-perception, an openness towards others, and strong critical thinking skills allows you to create and sustain meaningful connections with people. Focusing on these areas can help transform your relationships in positive ways.

Practical Strategies for Applying Perception and Critical Thinking in Daily Life

To apply these two skills in your daily life, here are some practical strategies:

Examine your biases.

We all have implicit biases that influence our perceptions and judgments. Make an effort to recognize your own biases and preconceptions about people and situations. Ask yourself how they might be impacting your thinking and be open to challenging them.

Seek out different perspectives.

Try exposing yourself to different opinions, cultures, and ways of thinking. Read news sources you disagree with, follow people on social media with different views, and engage in respectful debates with others. Widening your perspectives will make you a more perceptive and open-minded thinker.

Question assumptions

Don’t just accept information at face value. Ask questions like, What evidence supports this? What are the counterarguments? Are there any hidden assumptions or biases? Evaluating the reasoning and evidence behind claims and ideas will lead to improved critical thinking.

Consider context

Perception depends strongly on context. Try to understand people and events in the broader context of the situation and environment. Look for root causes and connections, not just surface appearances. Context provides meaning and helps avoid narrow or superficial judgments.

Stay curious

Cultivate a curious mindset. Ask questions, explore new topics that spark your interest, and seek to continuously expand your knowledge. Curious people tend to be more perceptive, open-minded , and willing to challenge their own thinking. A curious mind is a critical mind.

Think before reacting.

Take time to reflect on situations rather than just reacting impulsively. Try to tap into your ability to reason and evaluate before responding or passing judgment. Pausing to think leads to more perceptive responses and helps avoid rash or emotional reactions. With practice, critical thinking can become second nature.

As you have seen, perception and critical thinking are intertwined. How you perceive the world around you is shaped by your beliefs, experiences, assumptions, and biases. To develop strong critical thinking skills, you must continually challenge your perceptions and consider alternative perspectives. Notice when information confirms what you already believe and look for evidence that contradicts your views. Seek out opinions different from your own and try to understand other points of view.

Continually ask questions about the accuracy and validity of the information. The more you practice perceiving the world with an open and curious mind, the stronger your critical thinking abilities will become. Sharpening these skills takes deliberate effort but will serve you well in navigating an increasingly complex world.

• Stereotype From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Perception Is Not Reality – Just because you think something is reality doesn’t make it reality. Posted August 5, 2019 |   Reviewed by Lybi Ma

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Critical thinking definition

Critical thinking, as described by Oxford Languages, is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgement.

Active and skillful approach, evaluation, assessment, synthesis, and/or evaluation of information obtained from, or made by, observation, knowledge, reflection, acumen or conversation, as a guide to belief and action, requires the critical thinking process, which is why it's often used in education and academics.

Some even may view it as a backbone of modern thought.

However, it's a skill, and skills must be trained and encouraged to be used at its full potential.

People turn up to various approaches in improving their critical thinking, like:

• Developing technical and problem-solving skills
• Engaging in more active listening
• Actively questioning their assumptions and beliefs
• Seeking out more diversity of thought
• Opening up their curiosity in an intellectual way etc.

Is critical thinking useful in writing?

Critical thinking can help in planning your paper and making it more concise, but it's not obvious at first. We carefully pinpointed some the questions you should ask yourself when boosting critical thinking in writing:

• What information should be included?
• Which information resources should the author look to?
• What degree of technical knowledge should the report assume its audience has?
• What is the most effective way to show information?
• How should the report be organized?
• How should it be designed?
• What tone and level of language difficulty should the document have?

Usage of critical thinking comes down not only to the outline of your paper, it also begs the question: How can we use critical thinking solving problems in our writing's topic?

Let's say, you have a Powerpoint on how critical thinking can reduce poverty in the United States. You'll primarily have to define critical thinking for the viewers, as well as use a lot of critical thinking questions and synonyms to get them to be familiar with your methods and start the thinking process behind it.

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What Is Perception?

Recognizing Environmental Stimuli Through the Five Senses

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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Perception refers to our sensory experience of the world. It is the process of using our senses to become aware of objects, relationships. It is through this experience that we gain information about the environment around us.

Perception relies on the cognitive functions we use to process information, such as utilizing memory to recognize the face of a friend or detect a familiar scent. Through the perception process, we are able to both identify and respond to environmental stimuli.

Perception includes the five senses; touch, sight, sound, smell , and taste . It also includes what is known as proprioception, which is a set of senses that enable us to detect changes in body position and movement.

Many stimuli surround us at any given moment. Perception acts as a filter that allows us to exist within and interpret the world without becoming overwhelmed by this abundance of stimuli.

Types of Perception

The types of perception are often separated by the different senses. This includes visual perception, scent perception, touch perception, sound perception, and taste perception. We perceive our environment using each of these, often simultaneously.

There are also different types of perception in psychology, including:

• Person perception refers to the ability to identify and use social cues about people and relationships.
• Social perception is how we perceive certain societies and can be affected by things such as stereotypes and generalizations.

Another type of perception is selective perception. This involves paying attention to some parts of our environment while ignoring others.

The different types of perception allow us to experience our environment and interact with it in ways that are both appropriate and meaningful.

How Perception Works

Through perception, we become more aware of (and can respond to) our environment. We use perception in communication to identify how our loved ones may feel. We use perception in behavior to decide what we think about individuals and groups.

We are perceiving things continuously, even though we don't typically spend a great deal of time thinking about them. For example, the light that falls on our eye's retinas transforms into a visual image unconsciously and automatically. Subtle changes in pressure against our skin, allowing us to feel objects, also occur without a single thought.

Perception Process

To better understand how we become aware of and respond to stimuli in the world around us, it can be helpful to look at the perception process. This varies somewhat for every sense.

In regard to our sense of sight, the perception process looks like this:

• Environmental stimulus: The world is full of stimuli that can attract attention. Environmental stimulus is everything in the environment that has the potential to be perceived.
• Attended stimulus: The attended stimulus is the specific object in the environment on which our attention is focused.
• Image on the retina: This part of the perception process involves light passing through the cornea and pupil, onto the lens of the eye. The cornea helps focus the light as it enters and the iris controls the size of the pupils to determine how much light to let in. The cornea and lens act together to project an inverted image onto the retina.
• Transduction: The image on the retina is then transformed into electrical signals through a process known as transduction. This allows the visual messages to be transmitted to the brain to be interpreted.
• Neural processing: After transduction, the electrical signals undergo neural processing. The path followed by a particular signal depends on what type of signal it is (i.e. an auditory signal or a visual signal).
• Perception: In this step of the perception process, you perceive the stimulus object in the environment. It is at this point that you become consciously aware of the stimulus.
• Recognition: Perception doesn't just involve becoming consciously aware of the stimuli. It is also necessary for the brain to categorize and interpret what you are sensing. The ability to interpret and give meaning to the object is the next step, known as recognition.
• Action: The action phase of the perception process involves some type of motor activity that occurs in response to the perceived stimulus. This might involve a major action, like running toward a person in distress. It can also involve doing something as subtle as blinking your eyes in response to a puff of dust blowing through the air.

Think of all the things you perceive on a daily basis. At any given moment, you might see familiar objects, feel a person's touch against your skin, smell the aroma of a home-cooked meal, or hear the sound of music playing in your neighbor's apartment. All of these help make up your conscious experience and allow you to interact with the people and objects around you.

Recap of the Perception Process

• Environmental stimulus
• Attended stimulus
• Image on the retina
• Transduction
• Neural processing
• Recognition

Factors Influencing Perception

What makes perception somewhat complex is that we don't all perceive things the same way. One person may perceive a dog jumping on them as a threat, while another person may perceive this action as the pup just being excited to see them.

Our perceptions of people and things are shaped by our prior experiences, our interests, and how carefully we process information. This can cause one person to perceive the exact same person or situation differently than someone else.

Perception can also be affected by our personality. For instance, research has found that four of the Big 5 personality traits —openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, and neuroticism—can impact our perception of organizational justice.

Conversely, our perceptions can also affect our personality. If you perceive that your boss is treating you unfairly, for example, you may show traits related to anger or frustration. If you perceive your spouse to be loving and caring, you may show similar traits in return.

Are Perception and Attitude the Same?

While they are similar, perception and attitude are two different things. Perception is how we interpret the world around us, while our attitude (our emotions, beliefs, and behaviors) can impact these perceptions.

Tips to Improve Perception

If you want to improve your perception skills, there are some things that you can do. Actions you can take that may help you perceive more in the world around you—or at least focus on the things that are important—include:

• Pay attention. Actively notice the world around you, using all your senses. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, or touch? Using your sense of proprioception, notice the movements of your arms and legs, or your changes in body position.
• Make meaning of what you perceive. The recognition stage of the perception process is essential since it allows you to make sense of the world around you. Place objects in meaningful categories, so you can understand and react appropriately.
• Take action. The final step of the perception process involves taking some sort of action in response to your environmental stimulus. This could involve a variety of actions, such as stopping to smell the flower you see on the side of the road, incorporating more of your senses.

Potential Pitfalls of Perception

The perception process does not always go smoothly, and there are a number of things that may interfere with our ability to interpret and respond to our environment. One is having a disorder that impacts perception.

Perceptual disorders are cognitive conditions marked by an impaired ability to perceive objects or concepts. Some disorders that may affect perception include:

• Spatial neglect syndromes, which involve not attending to stimuli on one side of the body
• Prosopagnosia, also called face blindness, is a disorder that makes it difficult to recognize faces
• Aphantasia , a condition characterized by an inability to visualize things in your mind
• Schizophrenia , which is marked by abnormal perceptions of reality

Some of these conditions may be influenced by genetics, while others result from stroke or brain injury.

Perception can also be negatively affected by certain factors. For instance, one study found that when people viewed images of others, they perceived individuals with nasal deformities as having less satisfactory personality traits. So, factors such as this can potentially affect personality perception.

History of Perception

Interest in perception dates back to the time of ancient Greek philosophers who were interested in how people know the world and gain understanding. As psychology emerged as a science separate from philosophy, researchers became interested in understanding how different aspects of perception worked—particularly, the perception of color.

In addition to understanding basic physiological processes, psychologists were also interested in understanding how the mind interprets and organizes these perceptions.

Gestalt psychologists proposed a holistic approach, suggesting that the sum equals more than the sum of its parts.  Cognitive psychologists have also worked to understand how motivations and expectations can play a role in the process of perception.

As time progresses, researchers continue to investigate perception on the neural level. They also look at how injury, conditions, and substances might affect perception.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

A New Look at Visual Thinking

Creative ideas emerge when visual thinking meets verbal communication..

Posted February 16, 2016 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

People who don’t think visually often have a hard time imagining the mental lives of those who do. By thinking, I mean conscious planning, problem-solving, imagining, and reminiscing. Most mental processes occur subconsciously, but my research focuses on the lived experience of thought that varies from one person to another. In an early study of visual mental imagery , Francis Galton found participants who did not consciously experience visual mental images. “They had a mental deficiency of which they were unaware,” he wrote, “and naturally enough supposed that those who affirmed they possessed it, were romancing” (Galton 1883, 85). This has been my experience, too: people often presume that others think as they do and are skeptical when they hear about people rotating life-like images, or living in mental worlds without visual scenery.

In the past four decades, especially in the past two, scholars from physics to poetry have argued for the existence and value of visual thinking. That psychologists have had to work so hard to prove its existence indicates how deep cultural prejudices against it have run. As a graduate student in Comparative Literature, I was taught that thought was language, and that people who disagreed were misinterpreting what occurred in their minds. I never accepted this, especially when I began teaching writing to freshman engineers. Since that time (the late1980s), behavioral and imaging studies have shown not only that visual thinking is “real,” but that it encompasses a wide range of skills.

Works such as Temple Grandin’s Thinking in Pictures and Thomas G. West’s In the Mind’s Eye have revealed how crucial it is for teachers to cultivate visual thinking and adjust their methods for visually inclined students. New research indicates that we need to move beyond categorizing people as “visual” or “verbal” and consider the many different mental processes that visual thinking involves. In the 1980s, psychologist Vera John-Steiner defined visual thinking as “the representation of knowledge in the form of structures in motion; ... the study of relationships of these forms and structures; ... the flow of images as pictures, diagrams, explanatory models, orchestrated paintings of immense ideas, and simple gestures; ... work with schemes and structures of the mind” (John-Steiner 1997, 109). John-Steiner developed this definition based on dozens of interviews with creative people. Even then, she mistrusted the categories “visual” and “verbal” and avoided placing creative thinkers in either one. Like hers, my narrative research on creative professionals indicates that creativity can’t be tied to visual or verbal thinking. It often emerges when they interact.

In the past 10 years, cognitive neuroscientist Maria Kozhevnikov and her colleagues have been finding evidence that people who think visually rely on two distinct groups of skills. Those who lean toward object visualization excel at picturing scenes in rich detail and distinguishing shades of color. They often have excellent visual memories and process scenes holistically. Those inclined toward spatial visualization do well at judging distances, relative dimensions, and velocities and often process ideas in terms of schematic patterns (Kozhevnikov, Kosslyn & Shephard 2005, 710). These two sets of skills correspond to two parallel pathways with which human visual systems process information. The ventral stream analyzes visual details and colors and seems oriented toward identification and recognition. The dorsal stream assesses distances, directions, velocities, and dimensions and seems to prepare people for action (Kandel et al. 2013, 562-64). Interestingly, people good at verbal thinking often score about average on object and spatial thinking tests. Only those who excel at object or spatial thinking fare poorly on tests that demand other kinds of visual skills, so that there is a “trade-off” between object and spatial visualization (Kozhevnikov, Blazhenkova & Becker 2010, 29). Kozhevnikov’s group has produced strong evidence that there is no one visual thinking style.

Kozhevnikov and her colleagues have also obtained data showing that trained scientists tend toward spatial visualization, and visual artists, toward object visualization (Blazhenkova & Kozhevnikov 2010, 23). It is not yet clear whether these professions develop people’s spatial and object skills, respectively, or whether people born with these inclinations gravitate toward professions that require them. Probably both are true, so that thinking is developed through inclination and practice in a complex feedback loop.

As a skeptic of any claim about human thought—and former president of the Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts—I would urge caution on associating any kind of work with one thinking style. Innovative science and art draw on every kind of thinking that human brains can produce. The great value of Kozhevnkov’s work lies in its demonstration of the wealth of skills visual thinking involves. The best way to make visual thinking real for those who doubt it is to reveal the rich mental worlds of those who use it.

Albert Einstein has long been cited as a visual thinker, but few have looked in detail at the way he described thought:

"What, precisely, is 'thinking'? When, on the reception of sense impressions, memory pictures emerge, this is not yet 'thinking.' And when such pictures form sequences, each member of which calls forth another, this too is not yet 'thinking.' When, however, a certain picture turns up in many such sequences, then—precisely by such return—it becomes an organizing element for such sequences, in that it connects sequences in themselves unrelated to each other. Such an element becomes a tool, a concept. I think that the transition from free association or ' dreaming ' to thinking is characterized by the more or less preeminent role played by the 'concept'" (Einstein 1979, 7).

Einstein’s description indicates that visual thinking is active, not passive. Those who don’t use visual images to invent things might imagine that thinking visually means relaxing and watching images float by. Nothing could be further from the truth. Visual thinking comes in many forms, but in every case, it is hard work. It may involve the derivation of a new image that connects others, or the manipulation of an image that needs to change. In many cases, mental images move . Creative ideas emerge as images from different contexts “speak” to one another.

The scientists, artists, writers, and designers I interviewed reveal how greatly visual thinking can vary. Neuroscientist Hugh R. Wilson sees “diagrams in [his] brain” when he hears that one retinal ganglion cell contributes to the receptive fields of many cortical cells. He isn’t sure how anyone can understand how receptive fields work without using mental pictures (interview with the author 6-2-10). Cell biologist Barry D. Shur told me that during a conversation, “I have this little slideshow going on in my head, [and] each slide is a thought.” Shur defines thought as “the smallest construct that has some meaning to it,” and if this isn’t a visual image, he’s not sure what it could be (interview with the author, 4-1-10). Like psychologist Rudolf Arnheim, who called visual perception “cognitive activity,” painter Mary J. Welty can’t separate seeing from thinking (Arnheim 1969, 5). As soon as she sees an object, she’s already thinking about how she’ll paint it. She notices where the shadows fall and how they affect the colors. For Welty, painting also means imagining how she can use visual cues to awaken imagery associated with other senses. When she paints a split-open orange, she wants viewers to see “those little sparkles” and smell the oranges that they are imagining (interview with the author, 6-29-10). For these creative people, visual thinking can mean using mental diagrams and snapshots to grasp ideas for oneself, and planning visual ways of presenting them to others.

Back in the 1970s, the cognitive style categories “visual” and “verbal” were set up as opposites. Like Kozhevnikov’s laboratory studies, my narrative research indicates the picture is far more complex. Not only do “visual” and “verbal” thinking lump diverse skills; they coexist in every mind, and creative impulses emerge when they interact. Being visually inclined may mean being able to describe and analyze images with words. When I asked neuroscientist Edward G. Jones why he thinks he’s visually oriented, he answered, “I’m really very good at putting into words what I’m seeing ... I can’t separate vision from words” (interview with the author, 6-15-10). Temple Grandin’s Thinking in Pictures uses language masterfully to explain how visual thinking works. In Grandin and others, words touch off cascades of images as her visual and language systems interact (Grandin 2006).

Poet Natasha Trethewey has such a strong visual memory that when she used to study for high school tests, she visually memorized her notes and could read the answers off her mentally scanned “pages.” “It’s a picture that haunts me,” says Trethewey, reflecting on the way that she writes poems (interview with the author, 2-15-10). Creating poetry involves choosing words that communicate a vision so that readers can create related images. To record ideas that might be used in poems, Trethewey keeps a notebook of images—except that “the pictures are in words” (interview with the author, 2-15-10). Literary critic Elaine Scarry supports Trethewey’s view that many people read poems and stories in order to visualize. Well-written literature offers a “set of instructions for composition” for the mind, much as a musical score tells instrumentalists how to create music (Scarry 199, 244). Hugh R. Wilson, who uses mental diagrams to understand neurons’ interactions, loves to read but balks at bad writing. How does he know it’s bad? Because it “gets in the way of [his] visualizing” (interview with the author, 6-2-10).

By comparing the results of laboratory and interview-based studies, we can work toward understanding all the activities that visual thinking involves. To learn about everything human brains can do, we need both to respect and question experimental data. We also need to listen to each person’s account of the way her mind works, and approach these insights with the same combination of respect and critical scrutiny.

Arnheim, Rudolf. 1969. Visual Thinking . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Blazhenkova, Olesya, and Maria Kozhevnkov. “Visual-object ability: A new dimension of non-verbal intelligence.” Cognition 30 (2010): 1-26.

Einstein, Albert. 1979. Autobiographical Notes . Edited and translated by Paul Arthur Schilpp. Chicago: Open Court.

Galton, Francis. 1883. Inquiries into Human Faculty and Its Development . London: MacMillan.

Grandin, Temple. 2006. Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism . London: Bloomsbury.

John-Steiner, Vera. 1997 [1985]. Notebooks of the Mind: Explorations of Thinking . New York: Oxford University Press.

Kandel, Eric R., James H. Schwartz, Thomas M. Jessell, Steven A. Siegelbaum, and A. J. Hudspeth. 2013. Principles of Neural Science . 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill.

Kozhevnikov, Maria, Olesya Blazhenkova, and Michael Becker. 2010. “Trade-Off in Object versus Spatial Visualization Abilities: Restriction in the Development of Visual-Processing Resources.” Psychonomic Bulletin and Review 17.1: 29-35.

Kozhevnikov, Maria, Stephen Kosslyn, and Jennifer Shephard. 2005. “Spatial vs. ObjectVisualizers: A New Characterization of Visual Cognitive Style.” Memory and Cognition 33.4: 710-26.

Scarry, Elaine. 1999. Dreaming by the Book . New York: Farrar, Strauss, Giroux.

West, Thomas G. 2009. In the Mind’s Eye: Creative Visual Thinkers, Gifted Dyslexics,and the Rise of Visual Technologies . Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.

Laura Otis, Ph.D. , is a professor of English at Emory University, where she teaches interdisciplinary courses on literature, neuroscience, cognitive science, and medicine. She is the author of Rethinking Thought .

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Shaping Our Reality: The Influence of Critical Thinking on Perception and Mental Health

Our perception of reality is shaped by a complex interplay of our thoughts, experiences, and beliefs. it influences how we interpret the world around us, how we relate to others, and ultimately, our mental health..

Critical thinking, the ability to analyse, evaluate, and form judgements, plays a significant role in shaping our perception and its impact on mental health. 

Here we will explore this intriguing intersection and its implications for mental health counselling.

Understanding Perception 

Perception refers to the process by which we interpret and understand sensory information. It involves taking in information from our environment, processing it through our cognitive and emotional filters, and constructing our version of reality. Our perception is, therefore, not an exact reflection of reality but a subjective interpretation shaped by our personal experiences, beliefs, and cognitive processes.

Our perception plays a pivotal role in mental health. It influences how we interpret events, how we respond to stressors, and how we navigate our relationships. Negative or distorted perceptions can lead to emotional distress, problematic behaviours, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

The Role of Critical Thinking in Shaping Perception 

Critical thinking can significantly influence our perception. It involves analysing, evaluating, and making judgements about information, enabling us to develop a more objective and nuanced understanding of our environment.

Critical thinking encourages us to question our assumptions, consider alternative perspectives, and make decisions based on evidence rather than emotions or biases. This cognitive approach can help us recognise and correct distorted perceptions, leading to a more accurate and balanced understanding of reality.

Critical Thinking and Cognitive Biases

Cognitive biases, systematic errors in thinking that influence our judgements and decisions, can significantly distort our perception. They can lead us to overemphasise negative information, jump to conclusions, or interpret neutral events as threatening

Critical thinking can help us recognise and counter these cognitive biases. By questioning our thoughts, considering the evidence, and evaluating alternative interpretations, we can mitigate the impact of cognitive biases on our perception. This can lead to a more objective understanding of our environment, improved decision-making, and enhanced mental health. 

Critical Thinking and Emotional Regulation 

Our perception is not only influenced by our cognitive processes but also our emotions. When we are anxious or depressed, we are more likely to interpret events negatively, contributing to a downward spiral of negative thinking and emotional distress. 

Critical thinking can play a crucial role in managing these emotional influences on our perception. By helping us analyse and evaluate our thoughts, it can prevent us from getting caught up in our emotions and enable us to develop a more balanced and rational perspective.

Critical Thinking in Counselling

In the context of mental health counselling, critical thinking is a valuable skill for both counsellors and clients. Counsellors can use critical thinking to help clients recognise and challenge distorted perceptions, develop healthier thinking patterns, and improve their mental health. 

Clients, on the other hand, can benefit from developing their critical thinking skills. It can empower them to take charge of their mental health, challenge their negative perceptions, and cultivate a more positive and balanced outlook.

In conclusion, critical thinking plays a significant role in shaping our perception and its impact on mental health. By promoting objectivity, reducing the influence of cognitive biases, and fostering emotional regulation, it can help us develop a more accurate and balanced perception of reality.

Developing critical thinking skills is a lifelong journey that requires practice, patience, and perseverance. With the right guidance and support, individuals can harness the power of critical thinking to transform their perception, enhance their mental health, and lead a more fulfilled and balanced life.

At times, life can be overwhelming and leave us feeling lost, anxious, or depressed.

Counselling can provide the support and guidance needed to navigate difficult times and achieve mental well-being. We offer a safe and confidential space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, and we strive to provide an inclusive and non-judgmental environment for all. 

If you are struggling with mental health issues or feeling overwhelmed, we invite you to reach out to us for support. We are here to listen, guide, and empower you towards a healthier and happier life. Don't let mental health challenges hold you back from living your best life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step towards better mental health.