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Introduction to Perception
Perception is experiences resulting from stimulation of the senses (Goldstein, 2019)
Humans evolved with detailed visual perception
Third of the human brain devoted to it
Perception = physical energy from outside world ? electrochemical message ? stimulating receptor cells ? received by the brain
Perception may be deceiving, vision not reflecting reality
Perception is a process, change with added information
Theoretical Background of Perception
Focus on Gestalt psychology conception of perception
Based in Wundts structuralism, perception is the combination of sensations
Proposed by Max Wertheimer in 1911 when observing apparent movement
Underlying principle whole different than sum of its parts
Gestalt psychologists proposed principles of perceptual organization elements group together to create larger objects in human perception
Applications of Perception
Gestalt psychology has practical application in psychology and psychotherapy design
Gestalt therapy used for treatment of depression and anxiety client centered approach with a focus on present
By understanding that perception is heavily influenced by motivations and expectations, behavior change occurs as individuals realize certain thought and behavior patterns influencing their perception of self and the world
Introduction to Consciousness
Most difficult to define and largely unknown concept of cognitive psychology
Believed to arise from physical systems such as the brain, which somehow becomes an experiencer
Consciousness is a form of inner life and awareness which controls behaviors, perception, and flow of information (Chalmers, 1996)
Theoretical Background of Consciousness
Popular group of theories are the higher-order theories of consciousness
Consciousness consists in perceptions about first-order mental states
Seek to distinguish between conscious and unconscious brain processing
Applications of Consciousness
There are various forms of consciousness that can be considered in therapy, including sensory, subconsciousness, self-consciousness, and individual differences in awareness
There are also altered states of consciousness including sleep and dreaming, hallucinations, disorientation, and others
Understanding consciousness can help in identifying disorders both physical or mental with a patient
Applying theories of consciousness, focusing on awareness and what information guides decision-making can help shift behavior.
Introduction to Attention
Attention is ability to focus on specific stimuli or locations (Goldstein, 2019)
The mind taking possession in a clear form of one of the numerous information streams, objects, or thought that simultaneously bombard every human
Attention allows to choose mental direction taken
Change function of neural circuitry by focusing on a specific stream of consciousness
Theoretical Background of Attention
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Feature integration theory (FIT)
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Consists of pre-attentive stage and focused attention stage, leading to perception
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Initially objects are broken into features without focus
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Then combination
Applications of Attention
Perception identifies the object and focuses attention on it, analyzing it
Therapies utilizing mindfulness teach clients to alter behavioral responses willfully by shifting amount and quality of attention focused on negative aspects (Schwartz & Begley, 2002)
Attention can aid in focusing attention on awareness of certain aspects of environment, decisions, or thoughts
Practices such as mindfulness and meditation have been effective in psychotherapy as means of shifting attention
Conclusion
Perception, attention, and consciousness are different types of cognition or mental processes
Research demonstrated that they are heavily intertwined, such as attention ? perception, perception alters consciousness, and consciousness affects attention states
All three work together to shape how an individual engages with and views the world
Application to Diverse Populations
Clear evidence that culture and sustained experiences impact brain structure and function (Park & Huang, 2010)
Therapies and assessments applying the principles of consciousness, attention, and perception must be culturally sensitive and responsive
A culturally responsive assessment takes a systems approach, learning about overlapping systems relevant to clients life and influences
May include family, religion, language, education, beliefs, preferences of food and entertainment all of which can be encompassed under culture (Hays, 2016)
Cultural influences and identities can shape perception based on beliefs, attitudes and values each cultural group typically has a schema (Alegria et al., 2010)
Cultural bias which pervades life experiences commonly produces subtle bias towards attention to particular features in environment, objects, and actors (Ketay et al., 2009)
Consciousness is a part of individual identity which is closely tied with culture and diverse perspective as well as developing awareness of culture in self (Bans, 2012)
References
Alegria, M., Atkins, M., Farmer, E., Slaton, E., & Stelk, W. (2010). One Size Does Not Fit All: Taking Diversity, Culture and Context Seriously. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 37(1-2), 4860. Web.
Banks, J. A. (2012). Cultural consciousness. In Encyclopedia of diversity in education (Vol. 1, pp. 510-510). SAGE Publications, Inc., Web.
Brownell, P. (2019). Handbook for theory, research, and practice in Gestalt therapy (2nd ed.). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Carlson, N.R. (2017). Physiology of behavior (12th ed.). Pearson
Chalmers, D. J. (1996). The conscious mind: In search of a fundamental theory. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Earl, B. (2014). The biological function of consciousness. Frontiers in Psychology, 5. Web.
Goldstein, B. E. (2019). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and everyday experience (5th ed.). Cengage.
Hays, P. A. (2016). Addressing cultural complexities in practice: assessment, diagnosis, and therapy. American Psychological Association.
Ketay, S., Aron, A., & Hedden, T. (2009). Culture and attention: evidence from brain and behavior. Progress in Brain Research, 7992. Web.
Mace, C. (2018). Mindfulness in psychotherapy: an introduction. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 13(2), 147-154. Web.
Schwartz, J. M., & Begley, S. (2002). The mind and the brain: Neuroplasticity and the power of mental force. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Wokke, M. E., Vandenbroucke, A. R. E., Scholte, H. S., & Lamme, V. A. F. (2012). confuse your illusion. Psychological Science, 24(1), 6371. Web.
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