How Experience Shapes Your Perception Of The World

During the expert session, Surya Gayet explores the impact of experience on perception through interactive activities. He uses a Q&A session and Mentimeter app for live polls to engage the audience in sharing their perceptions and testing assumptions. Through real-life examples and scientific studies, Surya illustrates how our expectations and past experiences influence what we see and recognize, emphasizing the importance of understanding different perspectives and effective communication.

• Understanding Perception as a Product of Expectations: Recognize that our perception of the world is not a direct representation of reality but rather a product of our brains' interpretations based on past experiences and expectations.
• The Power of Empathy in Communication: Embrace empathy by recognizing that others may perceive the world differently due to their unique backgrounds and assumptions, and make an effort to bridge potential misunderstandings through clear communication.
• Multi-Sensory Impact of Experience: Expand your perspective on experience's role in shaping perception beyond just sight and sound, as it also influences senses such as smell, touch, hunger, pain, restlessness, and arousal.
   

In this expert session, Surya Gayet explores the intriguing topic of how our experiences shape our perception of the world around us. Surya begins by discussing the differences between our conscious perception and the way technologies like electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) record information about the world. He argues that our perception is not a direct representation of reality but rather a product of our brains' interpretations based on our expectations and past experiences.

 

Surya offers various examples to illustrate this concept, starting with how our perception of objects, such as toothbrushes, can be influenced by our past experiences and expectations. He also discusses how our brain compensates for lighting conditions, making objects appear differently than they actually are in order to help us recognize them better in real life.

 

Interactive elements throughout the session encourage audience participation, inviting them to share their perceptions of different stimuli and guess the color of a toothbrush based on a brief image. Surya then discusses the results and explains how our knowledge influences our perceptions and helps us interact with the world effectively.

One fascinating example Surya presents is the famous dress color debate, where people perceived the same image differently due to their brains unconsciously compensating for different lighting conditions. He emphasizes that this process is automatic and not conscious, and we only experience the end result.

 

Moreover, Surya discusses how our perception of sensory information is influenced by our experiences, including senses like smell, touch, hunger, pain, restlessness, and arousal. He concludes by stressing the importance of language and communication in shaping our perception, as they are reciprocal processes.

 

Throughout the session, Surya emphasizes the significance of experience in shaping our perception and encourages empathy towards others, recognizing that their perception might be vastly different from ours. He suggests making assumptions explicit when communicating and actively asking individuals about their perspective to gain a better understanding.

No other sessions available at this moment.