Perceptions

Perception is the act of cognitively and emotionally recognizing or understanding a stimulus. Thus, perceptions are those patterns of recognition with which people understand the world around them. The way an individual perceives something is influenced by a number of factors, including past experiences, cultural worldview, and the situational context in which the person encounters the particular stimulus, or even the person’s state of mind when encountering the new stimulus. Understanding perception is crucial to understanding the nature of intercultural competence since perceptions influence responses to stimuli and the responses in turn indicate the extent to which individuals are competent in an intercultural interaction.

This entry contains an overview of what perceptions entail, a brief discussion of how culture influences perceptions, and an explanation of the ...