Do We Believe What We Perceive or Do We Perceive What We Believe

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Do We Believe What We Perceive

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 Do We Perceive What We Believe?

“We sense something, perceive it, and then believe it.” This sounds logical, however there’s another idea contrary to this which sounds as logical as this one: “We believe things, pretend to sense it, then we perceive it.” It’s hard to decide which one is more accurate because circumstances are effective.      

Assume that here is a man who is instinctively afraid of dogs. When a dog looks directly at him, he thinks that the dog didn’t like him, so it may bite him. As he believes that the dogs are wild animals, he doesn’t see the excitement and love in the dog. He perceives the dog as a danger. But another man, who loves dogs, does not have the same attitude. He sees the swinging tail, which shows the excitement, love and energy of the dog. He perceives the dog’s astonishment. Here, the belief effects the perception.

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Now assume a woman (let’s call her Ann) whose friend Jemma tells (gossips) her that her husband Andy is cheating on her. Until that day, Ann doesn’t perceive the women around Andy as a danger for their marriage. She sees them and thinks that they’re Andy’s friends from work, or old friends from the school years or so. She doesn’t bother them. Not until Jemma tells her that gossip, does she perceive those women as enemies. Again, in such a situation, belief affects the perception.          

Also in medicine, it is said that complex ...

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