Model for Perception

1688 Words4 Pages

Model for Perception

Most people assume everyone sees the world the same way. This can be expected because people are not able to compare what they see to what someone else sees (using language to describe visuals is inherently biased). This widely accepted assumption, however, is inaccurate. There is evidence that each person's perception of the world is different- if only in minor ways. For example, a perception discrepancy can be found when comparing how people suffering from anorexia nervosa see their bodies and how other people see the anorexics' bodies. Even though this distortion is an extreme perception difference that can actually be documented (most perception differences can not even be verbalized), analyzing the distorted body phenomenon can be useful. It can help explain the concept of perception by answering three key questions: 1) what does a different perception entails mentally, 2) what provokes different perceptions to occur, and 3) how does this all fit together on a neurological level. To come to these conclusions with this example, perception must first be defined on a neurological level to use as background information. Next, data from studies of anorexics should be used to learn what having a different perception means on a conscious level. Then an analysis of the typical life experiences of anorectics should be performed to discern what factors led this particular group to a perception distortion. These analysis will t hen be related back to the neurobiology of perception. The result will be a model of perception differences which demonstrates why everyone sees the world differently.

Perception may not be what you think it is. Perception is not just a collection of inputs from our sensory system. I...

... middle of paper ...

...ce.org/resources/facts.html

2)Lang, Susan. Study links personality and weight. Cornell Chronicles, 9/9/93

gopher://gopher1.cit.cornelledu/00/.files/CH09099308/CH09099308

3)National Foundation for Brain Research. Eating Disorders.

http://www.bixler.com/

4)Oliveira, Jorge. Perception and Reality, Brain and Mind.

http://www.epub.org.br/CM/n04/opiniao/percepcao_i.htm

5)Rice, Carla. Promoting Healthy Body Image, 1995.

http://www.opc.on.ca/bestart/bodyimg/bodyimg.html

6)Rivers, Karen. Human Values and the Effects of Television on Children.

http://www.dead.net/cavenWeb/philzone/humanvaluesTV.html

7)Shipton, Geraldine. If looks could kill! Women and the Mirror.

http://www.shef.ac.uk/uni/academic/N-Y/psyc/staff/gshipton/woman.html

8)University Health Center. Women, Weight and Body Image. 1997

http://www.ualberta.ca/~jhancock/HealthEd.html

Open Document