Types of perception in psychology

  • Apr 22, 2022
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Types of perception in psychology

People have the ability to smell, hear and see what is happening in their world. These senses are what help you form certain information about your reality. In this sense, the studies carried out in the field of perception usually focus on how the The human brain processes this information, since it is what is used to create experiences and perceive the around.

In any case, perception is a vital process for survival. It is through the senses that we perceive information from the environment in which we live to process it in our brain. Now, many people tend to think of perception as a unitary capacity, and the reality is that this process goes beyond simple sensations. In this Psychology-Online article you will know exactly what they are types of perception in psychology so that you learn to recognize them easily.

You may also like: Depth perception in psychology

Index

  1. what is perception
  2. olfactory perception
  3. auditory perception
  4. spatial perception
  5. Tactile perception
  6. taste perception
  7. Visual perception
  8. pain perception
  9. Extrasensory perception
  10. movement perception
  11. Social perception
  12. music perception

What is perception.

perception is a process that involves organizing, interpreting, and identifying all sensory information that we receive to understand the data that is in the environment. Furthermore, all perception involves signals passing through the nervous system, which in turn are the result of physical or chemical stimulation of the sense organs.

Phases of perception

Coupled with that, perception is a process that involves several stages. Specifically, they are the following:

  • Detection: at that time, individuals perceive the stimuli through the senses. The greater the stimulus, the faster the information can be perceived. In fact, people respond to it with an immediate sensation and then focus on the perception of the environment.
  • Organization and care: at this stage, the individual organizes the information according to proximity and, even, there is a certain tendency to group similar stimuli.
  • Appreciation: at this time people select and organize sensory responses, according to their individual reality.

Within the psychology of the Gestalt, perception is of vital importance since it supports the theory that people will perceive reality according to a certain structure. Therefore, each experience depends in part on one's culture and background.

If you want to know what are the types of perception that exist according to psychology, then let's see the most common:

Types of perception in psychology - What is perception

Olfactory perception.

As its name indicates, it is a type of perception that is activated through smell, through aromatic stimuli or odors. Some of the characteristics of olfactory perception is that it allows obtaining information from the environment to relate aromas with certain positive or negative memories.

Auditory perception.

This perception happens because the changes in vibrations that occur in the environment are captured through the ears or the auditory system. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the presence of the elements what is around us.

Types of perception in psychology - Auditory perception

Spatial perception.

This type of perception refers to the ability of the subject to capture the visual signals of the world in its three dimensions. Among the characteristics of spatial perception is the possibility of judge distance, depth and height of the stimulus.

Tactile perception.

Tactile perception occurs when stimuli are received through the skin, which happens mainly using the hands. In this type of perception, it may well arise rejection or a pleasant feeling, according to each experience.

Taste perception.

It is a very sensitive type of perception since it occurs through the taste buds. Obviously, detection occurs through the mouth. Now, depending on the particular experience, this perception can trigger positive or negative statements, among one of the main characteristics of taste perception.

Types of perception in psychology - Taste perception

Visual perception.

Within the types of perceptions in psychology, in this case, visual perception captures the colors, movements, shape and size of elements external to be able to interpret the information.

Pain perception.

Experts consider this type of color perception to be one of the most complex. In fact, they affirm that, for it to happen, many senses are involved. For example, it may be that a person experiences the smell of blood and relates it to a memory from the past. Also when we receive a blow, the sense of touch is activated.

Extrasensory perception.

Another example of perception is extrasensory. This is a very particular type of perception since it is related to little-known sensory processes. For example, it has to do with paranormal phenomena, telepathies, hunches, premonitions and other types of events that usually occur under conditions with controlled stimuli.

Types of perception in psychology - Extrasensory perception

movement perception.

This process is essential for the survival of the species. Is related to the need for displacement, orientation and hunting that animals and humans have for survival. In fact, were it not for the perception of movement, species would drastically reduce their number of individuals.

Social perception.

also called social cognition. Among the types of perception examples, this type is related to the way people tend to visualize those around them. That is, it is the way in which we associate, remember and categorize those around us.

Music perception.

It is the type of perception that is associated with aesthetic emotions. It is a perception that helps the individual to perceive, recognize and classify the different melodies to assign them a particular meaning.

If you want to know more about the types of perception, we recommend you consult our posts The senses of the human being and their functions Y Difference Between Sensation and Perception With Examples.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Types of perception in psychology, we recommend that you enter our category of basic psychology.

Bibliography

  • Galavotti, E. (2014). General Psychology. Homolaicus.com
  • Oviedo, G. (2004). The definition of the concept of perception in psychology based on the Gestalt Theory. Rev.estud.soc. no.18 Bogota-Colombia.
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