Perception

CSGnet Archive CSG2004
61

MST)]

Fred Nickols At 07:39 AM 11/22/2004 wrote:

I came across the definition of perception shown below on another list and
it strikes me as way wide of the mark. I need some help in
critiquing/criticizing this definition.

1. Perception

Perception is a cognitive process by which an individual gives meaning to
his or her environment by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting
environmental stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world
(Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly, 1991, p. 64).

It brings to mind a number of questions:

Perception is a cognitive process

[What cognitive process?]

by which an individual gives meaning to his or her environment

How is that done? What is meaning? How does one "give meaning"?
How is meaning given to the environment (outside the observer)? Does that
change the environment?

by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting environmental stimuli

How are stimuli selected? Organized? Stored? Interpreted? Are they still
stimuli after those things have been done to them?

into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world

In what form does this picture exist? How does selecting produce a
meaningful and cohereht picture? How can we recognize a meaningful picture,
and tell it from a meaningless one? Ditto for coherent pictures versus
incoherent ones..

It seems to me that this definition tells us precisely nothing about
perception: It alludes to a collection of undefined processes acting to
produce an undefined result, without telling us what those processes are or
how the result relates to the world outside the brain.

Before I met Mary, I went out with a beautiful redhead who had all sorts of
nice attributes, but her most charming talent was the ability to deliver an
after-dinner speech in which she could go on indefinitely without ever
getting to a point or for that matter talking about anything at all. "My
friends, I am pleased to be here on this occasion which we all know will be
one to remember when we have finally achieved the goal which we all
support." And so on and on and on. I think she would have appreciated the
above definition of perception.

Best,

Bill P.

62

[From Rick Marken (2004.11.22.0840)]

I came across the definition of perception shown below on another list and
it strikes me as way wide of the mark. I need some help in
critiquing/criticizing this definition.

1. Perception

Perception is a cognitive process by which an individual gives meaning to
his or her environment by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting
environmental stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world
(Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly, 1991, p. 64).

Depending on how one interprets the words, I it's possible to read this
definition as being completely compatible with the PCT model of perception.
"Cognitive processes" could be considered analogous to the perceptual
functions of PCT. "Environmental stimuli" could be considered the physical
variables that stimulate sensory outputs which are the first level inputs to
the perceptual functions in PCT. Then the "selecting, organizing, storing
and interpreting" are among the things done with the sensory inputs (and
perceptual functions of those inputs) by the perceptual functions.

This definition of perception just shows why you really need a model in
order to understand what you mean by technical terms. I think it is
important to provide good verbal definitions of concepts in order to be able
to communicate effectively in forums like this. But ultimately, I think the
meaning of technical terms like "perception" and "control" are defined by
the model that implements these terms.

So I guess my only critique of this definition would be a question: Where's
the model?

Best

Rick

···

--
Richard S. Marken
MindReadings.com
Home: 310 474 0313
Cell: 310 729 1400

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63

[From Rick Marken (2004.11.22.0840)]

I came across the definition of perception shown below on another list and
it strikes me as way wide of the mark. I need some help in
critiquing/criticizing this definition.

1. Perception

Perception is a cognitive process by which an individual gives meaning to
his or her environment by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting
environmental stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world
(Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly, 1991, p. 64).

Depending on how one interprets the words, I it's possible to read this
definition as being completely compatible with the PCT model of perception.
"Cognitive processes" could be considered analogous to the perceptual
functions of PCT. "Environmental stimuli" could be considered the physical
variables that stimulate sensory outputs which are the first level inputs to
the perceptual functions in PCT. Then the "selecting, organizing, storing
and interpreting" are among the things done with the sensory inputs (and
perceptual functions of those inputs) by the perceptual functions.

This definition of perception just shows why you really need a model in
order to understand what you mean by technical terms. I think it is
important to provide good verbal definitions of concepts in order to be able
to communicate effectively in forums like this. But ultimately, I think the
meaning of technical terms like "perception" and "control" are defined by
the model that implements these terms.

So I guess my only critique of this definition would be a question: Where's
the model?

Best

Rick

···

--
Richard S. Marken
MindReadings.com
Home: 310 474 0313
Cell: 310 729 1400

64

Fred, this may not be what you are “looking” for but it works for me. Re: Perception is a cognitive process by which an individual-- has vision–

Vision (perception) has many perspectives. Seeing where you are, seeing where you want to be, and having the ability to perceive the difference between the two, gives you purpose and direction.
-Mark Lazare

65

I forgot to add this link to my last post:

http://www.compassmentalhealth.com/product_5_1.html

Mark Lazare

66

From [Marc Abrams (2004.11.22.2057)

I’d like to hear Bill’s answers to the same questions he has posed here with regard to HIS hierarchy model. It seems the same questions hold. I won’t be holding my breath waiting for an answer.

Fred, you never said what you felt was wrong with the definition, I like it. I think Rick is right on a model is needed., and a model they will have

Marc

In a message dated 11/22/2004 11:29:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, powers_w@FRONTIER.NET writes:

···

MST)]

Fred Nickols At 07:39 AM 11/22/2004 wrote:

I came across the definition of perception shown below on another list and
it strikes me as way wide of the mark. I need some help in
critiquing/criticizing this definition.

  1. Perception

Perception is a cognitive process by which an individual gives meaning to
his or her environment by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting
environmental stimuli into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world
(Gibson, Ivancevich & Donnelly, 1991, p. 64).

It brings to mind a number of questions:

Perception is a cognitive process

[What cognitive process?]

by which an individual gives meaning to his or her environment

How is that done? What is meaning? How does one “give meaning”?
How is meaning given to the environment (outside the observer)? Does that
change the environment?

by selecting, organizing, storing and interpreting environmental stimuli

How are stimuli selected? Organized? Stored? Interpreted? Are they still
stimuli after those things have been done to them?

into a meaningful and coherent picture of the world

In what form does this picture exist? How does selecting produce a
meaningful and cohereht picture? How can we recognize a meaningful picture,
and tell it from a meaningless one? Ditto for coherent pictures versus
incoherent ones…

It seems to me that this definition tells us precisely nothing about
perception: It alludes to a collection of undefined processes acting to
produce an undefined result, without telling us what those processes are or
how the result relates to the world outside the brain.

Before I met Mary, I went out with a beautiful redhead who had all sorts of
nice attributes, but her most charming talent was the ability to deliver an
after-dinner speech in which she could go on indefinitely without ever
getting to a point or for that matter talking about anything at all. “My
friends, I am pleased to be here on this occasion which we all know will be
one to remember when we have finally achieved the goal which we all
support.” And so on and on and on. I think she would have appreciated the
above definition of perception.

Best,

Bill P.