Perceptual Set Theory

Definition

Perceptual set theory is the concept that our expectations, experiences, and context influence how we perceive and interpret sensory information. It suggests that our minds are predisposed to perceiving things in certain ways based on past experiences and beliefs.

Theoretical Perspectives

Perceptual Set Theory relates to cognitive psychology and gestalt principles, emphasizing how expectations, context, emotions, and culture shape perception.

Study And Research Findings

Research by Bruner and Minturn (1955) demonstrated the influence of perceptual set by showing how expectations affect perception of ambiguous figures.

Related terms

Selective attention: The ability to focus on specific stimuli while filtering out irrelevant information.

Schema:

Mental frameworks or structures that organize our knowledge about a particular topic or concept.

Bottom-up processing: The process of perceiving individual elements of a stimulus and then combining them into a coherent whole perception.