Sensory Perception free essay sample

There are also other cases where what we think we see is not really what it is, â€Å"habits, interests, and biases, focuses and thus limits our perceptions. † (Kirby Goodpaster, 2007, pg. 56) I believe that our sensory information in most regards is accurate, without any sort of accuracy we would not depend on them as much as we do in our thinking and decision making. When we feel heat on a pan on the stove our senses alert us to the danger of being burnt and we proceed with caution. When we see that it is raining outside we know we will get wet and make a decision to bring an umbrella to keep warm. Hearing is another powerful sense that we use to listen to words, is crucial in communication, and is interactive with our thinking. When we hear a very loud noise close to us we are startled and our senses might kick in and tell us to take cover for safety. We will write a custom essay sample on Sensory Perception or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When we sense better, we in turn think better. 2. Identify and describe at least three factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data. Sensory data is vital towards survival in the wild. Animals depend on their senses in hunting, fighting, and decision making. The senses of many predators have adopted and developed in many ways that allow them to be the best, most efficient hunters and at survival. Each animal has unique senses that allow them to have a much better chance at survival. Bats can hear at a higher frequency that allows them to locate capture predators easier, many invertebrates are able to analyze and see polarized light to help in the water. â€Å"Some snakes use infrared radiation to locate warm-blooded prey, and certain beetles can use it to sense forest fires. (â€Å"Senses, 2012†) In order for our sensory data to be accurate we need to ensure that our perceptions are sharp which will help us in better delivery of data to our brains. We also need to ensure that our observations are accurate, that we have gotten all of the facts right. Another factor to take into consideration is that â€Å"we need to perceive beyond appearances and behind false faces† (Kirby Goodpaster, 2007, pg. 54) 3. Discuss the roles of â€Å"nature† and â€Å"nurture† with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data. I think that in regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data that primarily in humans both nature and nurture are involved. We still possess the fight or flight primal sense for survival. On the other hand I think that our nurture has become a part of who we are and does affect our sensory data. As an example, a person raised in Japan and one raised in Mexico will have been raised with different senses of taste, smells, sounds or hearing, and with very different visual experiences. These differences in sensory data will affect who they are and their thinking. Yes, on a basic level we all feel pain, see, hear, but their experiences and how the nurturing affects them will be very different. As stated earlier, â€Å"custom in the form of habits, interests, and biases, focuses and thus limits perceptions. † (Kirby Goodpaster, 2007, pg. 56) I think we do act on our animal instincts in our human behavior but I also do believe that we think and behave in certain ways due to being taught to do so, our sensory data is a combined mixture of both that we take into consideration and sensing in our thinking and actions.

Freud and Happiness essays

Freud and Happiness essays Born in 1856 in a small European town, Sigmund Freud would grow to be one of the most important thinkers in recorded history. From a young age, he attempted to understand the human mind and explain its tendencies. In doing so, he successfully managed to make countless enemies and critics. His ideas in response to the puzzles of human existence often conflicted with those of his audience, and I am in this number. In his novel Civilization and Its Discontents, Freud presents theories on happiness, none of with which I agree. Freud describes happiness, understood by us as pleasure, as everyones main goal in life. According to Freud, all humans strive after happiness; they want to become happy and remain so(25). Mankind struggles in everything to avoid feelings of displeasure and pain while attempting to experience feelings of joy and delight. Freud named this concept the pleasure principle, and he thought it to be the gist of life. I, on the other hand, do not believe that the pleasure principle is everyones driving force. First of all, people have different goals in life, starting with the most basic goal of survival. Besides that, though, people seek love, praise, wealth, and reproduction. However, different people do not hold these goals in equal esteem because no one is the same. Secondly, the need for happiness is important, but not vital. We can survive if we are not always experiencing pleasure, but for some individuals, sterility is devastating, and for others, the loss of love can lead to suicide. Freud believed that the pleasure principal is prevalent in humans at all times but can never be satisfied. He said that the principle dominates the operation of the mental apparatus from the start(25). Right when we are born, the pleasure principle is working inside of us. As infants, we cry if we are hungry or in pain, and we enjoy the warmth and security of our mothers arms. Day in and day out...