Perceptions (Blog #7)

Did anything covered in class surprise you?

I was definitely surprised at how on some of the examples, I was completely tricked.

How does these insights into human perceptual processes change your views of your own behavior, past and present?

Well It is definitely a good thing because these insights tell us that we are human, and our own behaviors could be skewed by the way we are hardwired or programmed to see certain things. It also means that we don't see the world from some perfect or "better" perspective even though it is the only perspective we know. Definitely looking at these biases, understanding them, and then trying to account for them as being sources of error or bias before we make any decisions to say, do, or stand behind certain things is important.

Have there been times in your life when your perceptions have led you astray? Or times when others perceptions of you have been erroneous and perhaps harmful to you?

Yes, definitely, I think that because a lot of my undergrad and grad training was in engineering, it forces you to take a very quantitative and logical view at situations, problems, decisions, etc... I find myself trying not to get locked into a box of using logical reasoning as the only tool or way to perceive and solve a problem. I have times where people perceive me as being too "cold" or "logical" because I am an engineer... I think because of that perception, it also makes some people hesitant to come to me with problems that may be solved by another problem solving approach.

How do you deal with other's misperceptions of you?

I really try and get to know people one on one. Sometimes we don't have a lot of time to meet or work together, but it is important that during that time, that small window, that we break down those misperceptions because it may be our only chance. I also believe that humor is a great way to break down misperceptions if used at the right time...

Do you still think those two tables did not have the same surface area?

I believed the two had the same surface area. After being beaten up by the previous experiments on my brain, I felt more open to the idea, then after someone measured it, I was sold on it.