Reference no: EM133622124 , Length: 4 pages

Psychology

How We Perceive the World Around Us

Instructions

In our reading this week, we learned about the processes of sensation and perception. Although they are two different processes, one often impacts the other. Some individuals are unaware of how much they rely on vision or hearing in their everyday lives, while others with vision or hearing impairments may rely more heavily on their other senses and perceive the world differently than others.

Please choose Option 1 or Option 2 below to diminish your vision or hearing to become more conscious of the relationship between sensation and perception.

Note: Please be very careful when performing these activities. We suggest doing them in a familiar environment, such as your home, and having a companion present.

Option 1: Vision
Spend between 15 to 30 minutes "observing" without using your vision. Rely on your hearing, smell, touch, or taste (if appropriate) to navigate your environment. During this time, try to perform several tasks that you usually do, such as picking up an object, or if you are at home, try walking to the next room, all while not using your vision. To impair your vision, you can close your eyes or wrap a scarf to cover your eyes.

Answer these questions in your own words in 4-5 sentences each.

Question 1. What is the difference between perception and sensation?

Question 2. Explain using this experiment how sensation and perception relate to the brain.

Question 3. During the activity, what other senses were you using and how did you use them to accomplish your tasks to perceive the world around you?

Question 4. Understanding the principles underlying our organization of the visual world and allowing us to make sense of our environment:
a. What information did you pick up on that you may have ignored if you were using your sense of vision?

b. While this activity was only for a short time, describe how your perception might change if one of your senses was permanently lost.

Option 2: Hearing
Spend between 15 to 30 minutes "observing" without using your hearing. Rely on your sight, smell, touch, or taste (if appropriate). You can use earplugs or noise-canceling headphones (if you have them) to aid in diminishing your hearing. During this time, try to perform several different tasks that you would typically do, such as watching television (muted) or walking outside, while not using your hearing.

Answer these questions in your own words in 4-5 sentences each.

Question 1. What is the difference between perception and sensation?

Question 2. How are sensation and perception related to the brain?

Question 3. During the activity, what other senses were you using and how did you use them to accomplish your tasks to perceive the world around you?

Question 4. Understanding the role the ear plays in the senses of sound, motion, and balance:

a. What information did you pick up on that you may have ignored if you used your sense of hearing?

b. While this activity was brief, describe how your perception might change if one of your senses was permanently lost.