How Can Perceptions Shape Imaginative Thought - Essay Example

Perception can be defined as the process or ability of an individual to interpret as well as organize sensation as a way of producing meaningful experiences of the world (Heuer 1999). In other words, it is people’s sensory experience of the world around them involving both the behavior in response to stimuli and the recognition of environmental stimuli. Perception is known to incorporate the five senses of smell, touch, sight, taste, and hearing (Heuer 1999).In this day and age concepts and thoughts are urged onward by an increasing amount of information and data made accessible to every person.

This, in turn, makes one respond to and anticipate transformations within their environment. Mental models are thus important in allowing individuals to process what would otherwise be considered the incomprehensible volume of information (Heuer 1999). It is rather unfortunate that people tend to perceive what they expect to perceive and not what is actually there in reality. Perceptions shape imaginative thoughts. Creativity and imaginative thoughts can be said to be similar in a number of ways where a majority of researchers have discovered that imaginative individuals tend to be more depressed as compared to the general population due to their perception of different situations they may be experiencing (Heuer 1999).

Individuals considered to be highly creative or imaginative tend to explore unusual possibilities. Those who perceive the world around them in a limited perception tend not to be as imaginative or creative as those who are open-minded and liberal.The left and right hemispheres of the human brain usually communicate with each other via a network of nerves joining these two parts of the brain. These also tend to possess different modes of thinking that may lead to conflicting interpretations with regards to awareness and perception.

Imaginative thoughts are usually associated with the right brain hemisphere and for an individual to have a clear perception of a given situation, the two hemispheres need to be in communication at the time of the experience in order for the person to better judge and act as per the situation.