Introduction
The thought process of individuals is shaped by the environment in which they live in. hostile socialization in the environment can make an individual be erratic and hostile with violent criminal activities emerging. On the contrary, good environmental socialization could result in a positive self-esteem that leads to a positive social perception. Due to the interaction with the external environment, there are many perceptions that act concurrently to influence an individual’s way of functioning as discussed in this paper.
Impact of the World Perception on the Thought Process
The world around us forms the external environment in which one lives in. The presentation of the world is in different ways with some people perceiving the world as either hostile or friendly. However, the perception of the world depends on the environment in which one lives in. A person living in poor conditions means that the person is socialized by harsh environmental conditions implying that the ethos and experiences are harsh (Lynn, Ruble & Szkrybalo, 2002). Such experiences are likely to affect the person with the impact being felt on the self esteem of the person. The individual can end up perceiving him/herself negatively while viewing the world as unfriendly thereby ending up being erratic or violent. On the contrary, living a normal life could make an individual have a positive self-esteem and therefore view the world as friendly. The person ends up perceiving the world as either friendly or unfriendly based on the conditions through which the individual was socialized (Newman & Newman, 2007).
Different Types of Perceptions
Bandura (2001) puts forward different types of perceptions that are exhibited by different people. First is the self perception that implies the manner in which an individual views him/herself. This form of perception is normally based on the self-esteem of the individual and it is shaped by the way the person is perceived by others. The other form of perception is environmental perception that is formed basing on the manner in which one receives information. Reception of hate information such as “I hate you” from a child is different from that of an adult. Environmental perception creates a mental filter for received information.
Kay and Albert (1999) note that learned perception is based on the personality, habit and culture of an individual and includes ideas and beliefs. Physical perception is based on the world of tangible objects that one constantly comes in contact with in life such as texture of clothes among others. Lastly, there is the cultural perception that refers to the larger part of the society and not any specific environmental factor. Cognitive functioning of an individual depends on the perception of an individual. An individual would function as socialized and as he or she perceives the environment. For instance, the physical perception can make an individual act cognitively based on the way he or she perceives things physically. It is not possible for one to function solely on one perception because the individual lives in an environment that shapes the way in which the person views the world (Bandura, 2001).
Conclusion
Perception is an important factor in cognitive functioning of an individual. The way in which an individual behaves is shaped by one’s experiences through the interaction with the external environment. With such experiences come various forms of perceptions such as the physical, self, cultural and learned perceptions. Despite the different perceptions, one cannot act only with one perception since all function together.
References
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An Agentic Perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 1-26.
Kay, B. & Albert, B. (1999). Social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation. Psychological Review, 106(4), 676-713.
Lynn, C., Ruble, D. & Szkrybalo, J. (2002). Cognitive theories of early gender development. Psychological Bulletin, 128(6), 903-933.
Newman, B. & Newman, P. (2007). Theories of Human Development. London: Routledge.