Perception in the study of Psychology an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Perception in the study of Psychology Introduction The 'Discover Your Mind' website author Ian Health (2003) in the work entitled: "Psychology of Perception" that: "Human life pivots around perception, both in waking states and in dream states." Franz Brentano (1974) states the belief that "the beginning of perception is the image to the mind with the two components of: (1) Judgment about the image; and (2) A feeling toward the image." (Paraphrased) According to Brentano: "the mental act that presents the image to the mind has three components associated simultaneously with it: (1) the image itself, which is the content of the perception; (2) a judgment which refers to the image; and (3) a feeling of pleasure or displeasure which we feel towards the image. (Heath, 2003) Capabilities of Perceptual Systems Foulke (1996) in the work entitled: "The Roles of Perception and Cognition in Controlling the Mobility" states that the 'Capabilities of Perceptual Systems" are inclusive of: Reach; Focus; Analysis; Pattern Resolution; Perceptual resolution; Perceptual anticipation; and Perceptual error. (Foulke, 1996) Foulke asks the question of: "What is the reach of a perceptual system? This question can be answered by determining how much of the surrounding space within which safe movement is assured, and the remote space within which landmarks can be observed. It also determines how much perceptual anticipation is possible, and how much integration of the serial perception of spatial facts acquired on different occasions is required for construction of the memorial representation of space" (1996) Need essay sample on "Perception in the study of Psychology" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed In terms of 'Focus'the questions is asked by Foulke to be: "How selective is the perceptual system. Does it have to exclude some of the surrounding space from observation, and focus on the sector of space where needed information is likely to be found? The answer to this question has a bearing on the vulnerability of a perceptual system to the interference caused by noise, etc. For example, by focusing, the visual system can exclude much of the surrounding space and the interfering stimulation it might contribute from observation. On the other hand, the auditory system is stimulated by acoustic energy from all directions, and has little ability to exclude interfering stimulation." (1996) In terms of 'Analysis'that which the eyes see assists in determination relating to shapes, characteristics and Foulke states that: "By analyzing the stimulus energy to which it is sensitive, the auditory system acquires information about the temporal organization and extension of events. Consider, for instance, the analysis that discloses the phonemes in a speech sound. Neither the visual system nor the auditory system is, by design, capable of the analysis compared out by the other system. Like the visual system, the haptic system is, by design, suited for the observation of objects in space, but its field of observation is relatively small, and its acuity is relatively poor." (1996) Unconscious Perception The work of Merikle (1998) entitled: "Psychological Investigations Of Unconscious Perception" relates that investigations of unconscious perception have a long history in the field of psychology stating that: "...some of the very earliest studies conducted in psychology laboratories in North America involved demonstrations of unconscious perceptual influences. Merikle states if: "...unconscious perception has an important influence on cognitive and affective reactions, then the effects of unconsciously perceived stimuli must last for considerably longer than a few seconds." (Merikle, 1998) There is research existing that suggests that "unconsciously perceived stimuli can have effects over longer temporal intervals based on research making examinations into whether "patients have memory for events that occurred while they were under general anesthesia. In general, the results of this research show that unconsciously perceived stimuli can have effects over periods of time measured in hours and days." (1998) Another type of ';perception is referred to in the work of Merikle who cites the work of Kadzin (2000) concerning "subliminal perception" which is stated by Merikle to occur "whenever stimuli presented below the threshold or limen for awareness are found to influence thoughts, feelings, or actions."(Merikle, 2000) Merikle states that examples of "subliminal perception are found in studies of patients with neurological damage." (2000) the distinction between conscious and unconscious perceptual processes is much more significant and interesting if conscious and unconscious processes lead to qualitatively different consequences than if unconscious perception is simply a weak form of conscious perception (cf. Dixon, 1971; Merikle, 1992; Shevrin & Dickman, 1980). In fact, it has even been argued that the distinction between conscious and unconscious processes is of questionable value if conscious and unconscious processes do not have qualitatively different consequences (e.g. Reingold as cited by Merikle & Daneman (2000) It is important to note the statement of Merikle & Daneman (2000) of: "one of the most important questions that can be asked regarding unconscious perceptual processes is how does unconscious perception differ from conscious perception?" Merikle & Daneman review several studies which all serve to provide a "demonstration of a different characteristic that distinguishes conscious from unconscious perception." Stated is that the combination of these studies "provide rather compelling evidence for the importance of unconscious perceptual processes influencing our reactions to stimuli." (Merikle & Daneman, 2000). The study of Kunst, Wilson and Zajonc (1980) is reviewed in their attempt to demonstrate that "unconsciously perceived stimuli can influence affective reactions" and even more recent is the study of Murphy and Zajonc (1993) in showing the "importance of unconscious perception in determining affective reactions by showing that affective reactions are more likely to be influenced by unconsciously perceived stimuli than by consciously perceived stimuli." (Mirekle and Daneman). The work of Groeger (1984; 1988) demonstrated a qualitative difference in that unconsciously perceived words are coded differently than are consciously perceived words." (Merikle s mind for many hours. Summary & Conclusion This work has clearly shown that many layered aspects, considerations as to that which impacts or stimulates the individual as well as the factors that impact the perception of the individual which may be differentiated depending upon the level of consciousness and even unconsciousness with various reactions to existing stimulus in the environment that the perception is taking place. Bibliography Health, Ian (2003) Psychology of Perception. Subliminal perception (nd) Foulke, Emerson (1996) The Roles of Perception and Cognition in Controlling the Mobility Tasks. Paper presented at International Symposium on Orientation and Mobility, Trondheim, Norway, 1996. Merikle, Philip M. (1998) Psychological Investigations of Unconscious Perception. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5, No. 1 1998, pp. 5-18. A.E. Kadzin (Encyclopedia of Psychology Vol. 7) New York University Press (2000). Foulke asks the question of: "What is the reach of a perceptual system? This question can be answered by determining how much of the surrounding space within which safe movement is assured, and the remote space within which landmarks can be observed. It also determines how much perceptual anticipation is possible, and how much integration of the serial perception of spatial facts acquired on different occasions is required for construction of the memorial representation of space" (1996) In terms of 'Focus' the questions is asked by Foulke to be: "How selective is the perceptual system. Does it have to exclude some of the surrounding space from observation, and focus on the sector of space where needed information is likely to be found? The answer to this question has a bearing on the vulnerability of a perceptual system to the interference caused by noise, etc. For example, by focusing, the visual system can exclude much of the surrounding space and the interfering stimulation it might contribute from observation. On the other hand, the auditory system is stimulated by acoustic energy from all directions, and has little ability to exclude interfering stimulation." (1996) In terms of 'Analysis' that which the eyes see assists in determination relating to shapes, characteristics and Foulke states that: "By analyzing the stimulus energy to which it is sensitive, the auditory system acquires information about the temporal organization and extension of events. Consider, for instance, the analysis that discloses the phonemes in a speech sound. Neither the visual system nor the auditory system is, by design, capable of the analysis compared out by the other system. Like the visual system, the haptic system is, by design, suited for the observation of objects in space, but its field of observation is relatively small, and its acuity is relatively poor." (1996) Unconscious Perception The work of Merikle (1998) entitled: "Psychological Investigations Of Unconscious Perception" relates that investigations of unconscious perception have a long history in the field of psychology stating that: "...some of the very earliest studies conducted in psychology laboratories in North America involved demonstrations of unconscious perceptual influences. Merikle states if: "...unconscious perception has an important influence on cognitive and affective reactions, then the effects of unconsciously perceived stimuli must last for considerably longer than a few seconds." (Merikle, 1998) There is research existing that suggests that "unconsciously perceived stimuli can have effects over longer temporal intervals based on research making examinations into whether "patients have memory for events that occurred while they were under general anesthesia. In general, the results of this research show that unconsciously perceived stimuli can have effects over periods of time measured in hours and days." (1998) Another type of 'perception is referred to in the work of Merikle who cites the work of Kadzin (2000) concerning subliminal perception which is stated by Merikle to occur "whenever stimuli presented below the threshold or limen for awareness are found to influence thoughts, feelings, or actions."(Merikle, 2000) Merikle states that examples of "subliminal perception are found in studies of patients with neurological damage." (2000) the distinction between conscious and unconscious perceptual processes is much more significant and interesting if conscious and unconscious processes lead to qualitatively different consequences than if unconscious perception is simply a weak form of conscious perception (cf. Dixon, 1971; Merikle, 1992; Shevrin & Dickman, 1980). In fact, it has even been argued that the distinction between conscious and unconscious processes is of questionable value if conscious and unconscious processes do not have qualitatively different consequences (e.g. Reingold as cited by Merikle one of the most important questions that can be asked regarding unconscious perceptual processes is how does unconscious perception differ from conscious perception? Merikle & Daneman review several studies which all serve to provide a "demonstration of a different characteristic that distinguishes conscious from unconscious perception." Stated is that the combination of these studies "provide rather compelling evidence for the importance of unconscious perceptual processes influencing our reactions to stimuli." (Merikle & Daneman, 2000). The study of Kunst, Wilson and Zajonc (1980) is reviewed in their attempt to demonstrate that "unconsciously perceived stimuli can influence affective reactions" and even more recent is the study of Murphy and Zajonc (1993) in showing the "importance of unconscious perception in determining affective reactions by showing that affective reactions are more likely to be influenced by unconsciously perceived stimuli than by consciously perceived stimuli." (Mirekle and Daneman). The work of Groeger (1984; 1988) demonstrated a qualitative difference in that unconsciously perceived words are coded differently than are consciously perceived words." (Merikle & Daneman, 2000) Mirekle and Daneman also relate the work of Poetzl (1917/1960) who conducted a study upon the "impact of unconsciousness perception on the manifest content of dreams" (Ibid) Poetzl discovered that information, although it be unconsciously perceived may remain in the subject's mind for many hours. Summary & Conclusion This work has clearly shown that many layered aspects, considerations as to that which impacts or stimulates the individual as well as the factors that impact the perception of the individual which may be differentiated depending upon the level of consciousness and even unconsciousness with various reactions to existing stimulus in the environment that the perception is taking place. Bibliography Health, Ian (2003) Psychology of Perception. Subliminal perception (nd) Foulke, Emerson (1996) The Roles of Perception and Cognition in Controlling the Mobility Tasks. Paper presented at International Symposium on Orientation and Mobility, Trondheim, Norway, 1996. Merikle, Philip M. (1998) Psychological Investigations of Unconscious Perception. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 5, No. 1 1998, pp. 5-18. A.E. Kadzin (Encyclopedia of Psychology Vol. 7) New York University Press (2000).

The eNotes Blog Are You Right or LeftBrained

Are You Right or LeftBrained Ah, the secret life of the human brain. Its hard to imagine that something that exists inside of each of us, that governs our every waking moment (and every sleeping moment for that matter), can be too complex for us to completely understandmore mysterious than the depths of the deepest ocean. In just one second, for instance, our brains can form one million new connections. One million. To keep up with everything your brain does, well, youd need another brain. One aspect of the brain that has always perplexed me is the concept of the left vs right brain. There is a persistent idea that the world is divided into left-brained and right-brained peoplethe former latching onto logic and analytical thinking, the latter made up of loosey-goosey, emotionally intuitive types. Throughout our lives, many of us purport to be either one or the otheran identity that is forged and enforced in school. Students proficient in Math and Science will adopt the idea that they are left-brainers, while those most skilled in Arts will identify themselves as right-brainers. But if youre not certain yet as to whether you are right or left brained, well, theres an infographic for that: Its interesting how this infographic ties in to information that is already quite commonplace. The idea, for example, that left-handed people possess greater creativity (given the fact that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body). I had thought this idea was simply an old-wives tale. It turns out, this is only slightly the case Right-Brain, Left-Brain Theory was actually formed as a result of neuropsychologist Roger W. Sperrys work with epileptic patients. His treatment for epilepsy involved severing the corpus collosum (the membrane that separates the halves of the brain). This effectively reduced a patients number of seizures, but drastically affected other aspects of their lives: Many split-brain patients found themselves unable to name objects that were processed by the right side of the brain, but were able to name objects that were processed by the left-side of the brain. Based on this information, Sperry suggested that language was controlled by the left-side of the brain. (Source) So, it is true that each side of the brain is better able to handle certain tasks. It is simply the theory itself that is over-generalized when speaking of individuals. While the right brain may be better suited to expressing and reading emotions, recognizing faces, and creativity, and the left may focus more on language, logic, and numbers, it is really how the halves of your brain work in unison that makes up the type of learner and thinker that you are. All Mathies are not entirely left-brained, and all creative types are not completely right-brainedsomething that may make you feel better when you find, like I did, that your apparently dominant side doesnt describe what you feel you are truly best at. (Numbers? Who, me) That being said, there is some use for dominance theory in curating good study habits. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses in certain areas can help you develop better ways to learn and study. For example, students who have a difficult time following verbal instructions (often cited as a right-brain characteristic) can benefit from writing down directions and developing better organizational skills. In particular, I can recall a mnemonic that worked well for me all the way back when I was preparing for my AP Psychology exama rhyme centering around numbers that helped me to memorize Eriksons eight stages of development. Maybe I have always been numbers-oriented after all? So, after identifying from the graphic above whether you are   left or right brained, here are some tips to help you learn and study most efficiently: Left Brain Dominant: To Do lists will work well for you, and youre probably already an expert at them! You might find that youre more partial to non-fiction reading You probably work better alone than in a group. If you must be in a group, volunteer as leader Take advantage of your organizational skills in taking notes and scheduling Push yourself to take risks! They can pay off Right Brain Dominant: Youll excel in essays, more so than on factual, T/F-type questions You probably dont always read directions carefullymake that a priority Use images and charts in your studies Use your imagination and creativity to its fullest on all projects Organize your thoughts by getting them down on paper Are you left brain or right brain dominant? Take the test to find out! And if you have any study tips to help others with your learning type, wed love to hear them in a comment!

Mesopotamia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mesopotamia - Research Paper Example Sumerians used the rivers to irrigate their lands, ensuring that there was a constant supply of food for their citizens. The economies of these societies were despotic, with one central figure having a control on all manner of productions. Sumerians is one of the societies found in Mesopotamia. These people used barley, wheat, and silver as the various means of currency (Muntone, 2012). The economic system in Mesopotamia was very easy to control by the leaders of the Sumerians. For example, if a leader was able to control the production of wheat, then the economic control of Mesopotamia will follow. The Sumerians did not have an economic and social stratification system. On this basis, egalitarianism was the major social organization that was seen throughout Mesopotamia. The Sumerians symbolized deities into the various elements that they had authority over. On this basis, there was the god of the moon, of the sun, of fertility etc. Sumerians were aware of the different properties of the earth, and they modeled these properties in a manner that would make the world to be more personable (Muntone, 2012). Some of the religious beliefs of the Sumerians are similar to that of the Christians and Jewish religion. For instance, the Sumerians believed that mankind was removed from paradise as a punishment of eating a forbidden fruit. Sumerians also had some knowledge in writings, and much of the knowledge concerning ancient Mesopotamia is found in their clay tablet writings that have survived until now.

Human Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Human Biology - Essay Example One of the major influences that made me choose biology as my field of study was my father who is a practicing dermatologist and gynecologist. Also, two of my six siblings have opted for a career in medicine. One of my brothers, who is living in Chile, is a renowned plastic surgeon and another brother placed in Florida is working as an obstetrics and gynecology specialist. Hence it was an easy option for me when it came to selecting my major field of study. Their work and successes have been a huge inspiration to me and have instilled within me a strong urge to pursue a career in medicine specializing in plastic surgery (The Scope of Biology). With one of my brothers being a plastic surgeon, I had developed an interest in the field as it has the potential to bring about a visible change in the lives of many people and help them lead a normal life. Though the concept of surgically changing the physical features of a person was initially restricted to burn victim’s the more rece nt advances has resulted in using plastic surgery for other ailments such as breast reconstruction following cancer treatment, treatment of cancerous skin, repair of cleft lip and palate and for facial reconstruction surgeries. There is also a misconception that plastic surgeons are simply cosmetic surgeons. Scientific Reports has estimated about 80% of the surgeries carried out to be reconstructive in nature as they mainly help to create a visibly pleasing appearance following burns or scaring of body tissues (Freedlander).

Self Reliance Paper Essay Example for Free

Self Reliance Paper Essay Part I Author- The author of this document is Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century.   Audience- The audience of Self-reliance would be people reading Emerson’s literary works around the year 1841. Also, Self-reliance was a speech before it became an essay so many people listening to Emerson speak at events would have most likely heard it. He is targeting his audience at young and medium aged men. Message- The message of this essay is that humans should trust themselves and not be slaves to society. They need to think and act for themselves instead of leading lives controlled by others. Context- Self-reliance was written around 1836 in America. Emerson’s wife had just died about five years before and he was preparing a series of lectures. America was a new place for people and ideas and Emerson flourished there because he could take advantage of the easily influenced minds of the Americans. Part II a) The claim that Emerson effectively advances is that humans should not conform to society, but rather they should think for themselves and believe in what they do. He writes, â€Å"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius.† This quote supports Emerson’s main argument that each person should think for themselves and to not just accept what is written in a history or literary book. Emerson plays on the reader’s pathos, or emotions, by saying, â€Å"Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.† This statement appeals to the reader because Emerson is creating a bond between his words and the reader by relating to the audience on a personal level and telling the audience to trust them. Emerson uses logic by stating, â€Å"Who so would be a man must be a nonconformist.† Emerson feels that to be a man, one must not conform to the format set out by society. He believes that a man should follow his own ideas and beliefs instead of conforming to the popular belief. Ethos is appealed because Emerson is a very well respected author who has published well over dozens of essays. b) Emerson implements many rhetorical devices in his essay such as parallelism, diction, and repetition to further advance his argument of being independent and not conforming to society. Emerson uses parallelism by stating that, â€Å"Envy is ignorance; the imitation is suicide†. This quote is very powerful because it conveys the message that a man is only what he makes of himself, not what others make of him. Throughout his essay, Emerson uses outstanding language to control the audience. Using great diction is very effective because the audience trusts Emerson because of his knowledge of literature. Finally, Emerson uses repetition to prove his point about society. Emerson starts a sentence off with the word Society, and then starts the very next sentence with the same word. He is talking about how society is a conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members, and without repeating the word society; the point would be not as effective. Part III This argument is overall effective because as a reader, I was captivated by his language and examples of how society was affecting the human person. The text is very persuasive because he provides clear and well throughout examples to support his main argument. This is a very well written essay and it has led me to question my own beliefs about society and whether it is positive or negative. When he stated that every person must trust thyself, it was really effective for me because I believe every single person needs to trust their actions and believe that what they are doing is right. Part IV Admonition- An act or action of admonishing; authoritative counsel or warning Naught- worthless: useless Firmament- the vault or arch of the sky Bards- a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds Vanity- something that is vain, empty, or valueless

Organic Foods: They Are Only Natural! Essay -- Health Benefits of Orga

When going to the grocery store or supermarket, people have a one track mind. Their one and only concern is food, food, and more food. Most shoppers come prepared with a list, so they can get in, get the supplies they need, and go happily on their way. Some shoppers tend to pick out brand name or well advertised products. Others prefer the brands they grew up with as kids. However, many choose the money saving route and buy only the items that are on sale or the cheap knock-offs of the original. With all these different kinds of shopping habits, do any of these customers stop and think about what items might be the best for their families and the world? Do the consumers know where their products come from, and how they were produced? There is one item on the shelves that states it directly on the label. This item is organic food. Organic foods may be found in multiple stores and supermarkets now, and shoppers are becoming more and more aware of them. Organic foods are produced for t he benefit of people and the environment in terms of how they are grown, raised, and processed; additionally, their cost, availability, and health benefits play dominant roles in human and environment welfare as well. In fact, organic foods are beneficial to society because of the way they are grown and maintained. â€Å"Organic farming is based on the idea of producing healthy, natural organic food, keeping the soil healthy, encouraging and enhancing biodiversity, and using sustainable farming methods,† stated Healthy Eating Made Easy (â€Å"What Are 1†). Organic farms do not use synthetic, artificial fertilizers or pesticides on crops; only biological pesticides, pesticides from natural resources, are used. Natural fertilizers include manure and compost to ... ... not only a healthy choice for a single person, but also a choice for future generations and the world. Works Cited Byrum, Allison. â€Å"Report Confirms More Health Benefits of Organic Food.† American Chemical Society 3 Mar. 2003. 1-2. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. Healthy Eating Made Easy. â€Å"What Are Organic Foods?† Healthy Eating Made Easy 1-3. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. â€Å"Why Organic Food Is Better Food.† Planet Maine 1-3. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. Mayo Clinic Staff. â€Å"Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?† Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 20 Dec. 2008. 1-5. Web. 7 Mar. 2010. Organic Facts. â€Å"Health Benefits of Organic Food.† Organic Facts 1-2. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. Organic Fruits and Vegetables. Philippines Manila News. 10 Sep. 2008. Web. 10 Mar. 2010. USDA Label. The B.S. Report. 30 Jul. 2009. Web. 10 Mar. 2010.

The Importance of Authenticity in a Man’s Life

Authenticity, as defined by existentialist philosophers, is the degree to which one is true to one's own personality, spirit, or character, despite external pressures. According to Jean-Paul Sartre, â€Å"Existence precedes essence†, in other words, man makes himself. In order for him to define himself, he should be totally free. But, how can he be free totally? Man can be totally free when he lives an authentic way of living. By living a life of authenticity, man should not seek guidance towards the established codes of life. He should decline every sort of objective morals and values that is set by his society for him?. By this, he should be living his life according to his true self. Living by his true nature requires him his freedom of choice. And by creating his own choices, he freely makes his own actions despite external forces. These actions which he freely chooses are now the basis of his existence. But in order for him to be able to live an authentic life, he must take full responsibility for all of his actions. Knowing things about freedom and authentic living, what are its implications to man’s life? Being authentic will enable a man to live his life to the fullest. And living life to the fullest means is to have a life that is joyful, meaningful, and full of values and happiness. By living authentically, he will be able to liberate himself from the barriers that are cast to him by his society. By transcending the presupposed purposes-in-life, the true purpose of his existence become so clear to him. With the knowledge of his existence’s ultimate purpose, he can formulate the best decisions for himself. Deciding according to his own choices will lead him towards the fulfilment of his personal goals. In sum, all these things will guide him to a more comfortable and a better life in which he lives through the assistance of his own choices and according to his very true nature. Indeed, authenticity is truly significant to a man’s life. The most mportant aspect of living an authentic life is total freedom. Because of total freedom, man is able to make personal choices and also, he leads his life to anew. He is no longer having problems when it comes to decision making for the reason that he already has a clear view of his ultimate purpose. For one to acknowledge his freedom of choice and the responsibility that he hold as a being is, according to Sartre, to have an authentic way of living.