Perceptual Model

From [Marc Abrams (2004.11.22.2354)]

Anyone on CSGnet interested in working toward a set of answers to the questions posed by Bill Powers in this post on perception?

They are answerable. I have a few preliminary ideas and a couple of basic SD models done. I understand this is not politically correct to talk about on CSGnet so if anyone is interested in a control model that would adhere to the definition of a perception as outlined by Fred’s post, you can contact me directly at matzaball50@aol.com

This is the main thrust of my work and the main focus of my interest; Perceptual Construction.

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.