Sensation and perception
Use a familiar smell to connect detecting information with interpreting it.
The picture in words
- Sensation
- Sensory receptors detect information from the environment.
- Perception
- The information is organized and interpreted.
- Context
- Familiar places and expectations can shape the interpretation.
Reading the illustration
Experience, expectations and current sensory input work together in perception.
Try a question
How could the same faint smell be interpreted differently in two places?
Show the explanation
The setting supplies different expectations. A smell near a café might bring coffee to mind, while a different context could suggest another source.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/5-1-sensation-versus-perceptionSelected introductory passages inspected