Selective perception

Selective perception is the tendency not to notice and more quickly forget stimuli that cause emotional discomfort and contradict prior beliefs. For example, a teacher may have a favorite student because they are biased by in-group favoritism. The teacher ignores the student's poor attainment. Conversely, they might not notice the progress of their least favorite student.^[1] It can also occur when consuming mass media, allowing people to see facts and opinions they like while ignoring those that do not fit with particular opinions, values, beliefs, or frame of reference. Psychologists believe this process occurs automatically.^[2]

Selective perception has roots in cognitive psychology, where it is studied as a fundamental part of how individuals filter and process information based on biases, expectations, and past experiences. It is closely related to concepts like confirmation bias—favoring information that aligns with one’s beliefs—and cognitive dissonance, the discomfort of holding conflicting thoughts, both of which shape perception.^[3] Its applications extend beyond psychology, playing key roles in marketing (shaping consumer focus), politics (influencing voter perception), and mental health (understanding biases in disorders), highlighting its impact on both individual behaviors and societal trends.

^ Ricky W. Griffin (31 January 2013). Fundamentals of Management. Cengage Learning. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-133-62749-4.
^ Steven Lucas Counselling. (2009, December 29). Psychology Definition Of The Week: Selective Perception. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from https://web.archive.org/web/20120416014147/http://counsellingcentral.com/psychology-definition-of-the-week-selective-perception
^ Eysenck, Michael W.; Keane, Mark T. (2020-03-09). Cognitive Psychology: A Student's Handbook (8 ed.). Psychology Press. doi:10.4324/9781351058513. ISBN 978-1-351-05851-3.

[Griffin2013-1] Ricky W. Griffin (31 January 2013). Fundamentals of Management. Cengage Learning. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-133-62749-4.

[2] Steven Lucas Counselling. (2009, December 29). Psychology Definition Of The Week: Selective Perception. Retrieved March 18, 2013, from https://web.archive.org/web/20120416014147/http://counsellingcentral.com/psychology-definition-of-the-week-selective-perception

[3] Eysenck, Michael W.; Keane, Mark T. (2020-03-09). Cognitive Psychology: A Student's Handbook (8 ed.). Psychology Press. doi:10.4324/9781351058513. ISBN 978-1-351-05851-3.

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