A person performs a huge number of actions in his life, his whole life is continuous actions. From birth to death, he is like a perpetual motion machine, constantly doing something. In this cycle of actions, there are special actions that are called perceptual. I wonder what distinguishes them from ordinary actions, why in psychology they are given special attention?
Perceptual actions: what is it?
Perception, or perception is the ability of a person to reflect the surrounding objects and situations. On the basis of the data obtained in the process of perception, knowledge of the surrounding reality is carried out and an individual (subjective) understanding of it is formed.
Every person is unique, which is why human culture and art are so diverse. However, despite differences in perception, each person goes through certain stages in his development, which are accompanied by the implementation of specific actions. These actionshave been studied and called perceptual.
Perceptual actions are included in the structure of the process of perception and the structure of human activity. Perception is an active process, therefore it is inextricably linked with activity. From a very early age, a person performs actions aimed at cognition and learning. After all, in order to live in this world, he needs to know this world and be able to interact with it.
Stages of formation and development
The formation of perceptual actions of perception occurs in the learning process. Their development is divided into three stages.
At the first stage, the very formation of a perceptual action takes place, which begins with the child performing practical actions with unfamiliar objects. As a result, the formation of perceptual tasks occurs - the formation of an adequate image of an object, which subsequently becomes a sensory standard.
At the second stage, there is a restructuring of sensory processes (occurring in the sense organs), which become perceptual actions under the influence of practical activities. Actions are carried out with the help of receptor apparatus (tactile and visual), children get acquainted with the spatial properties of objects.
At the third stage there is a process of reduction and curtailment of external actions. They become hidden, proceeding at the level of consciousness and subconsciousness. The external process of perception becomes an act of momentary discretion.
By this time, the child has formeda system of sensory standards (socially developed systems of sensory qualities, for example, a system of geometric shapes, etc.). Thanks to them, sensory-perceptual actions change. It changes from a process of image building to a process of identification.
Levels
There are four levels in perceptual action:
- detection (characterized by the detection of a stimulus);
- distinction (at this level, perception occurs with the subsequent formation of a perceptual image);
- comparison or identification (at this level, the perceived object is identified with the image that is stored in memory; or there is a comparison of several objects);
- recognition (the corresponding standard is retrieved from memory and the object is categorized).
Game and Development
Perceptual actions in preschoolers are a fruitful connection between the actions of orientation and research with the actions of execution. And the unity of visual and manual actions ensures the accuracy of perceptual analysis.
Knowledge of the world around children is carried out in the process of play. While playing, they actively process and assimilate new information. Thus, they accept social norms and rules for successful adaptation in society.
The following types of perceptual actions are distinguished in preschool children:
- identification actions (identification of an object);
- actions in relation to the standard (comparison of the properties of the object with the standard);
- modeling actions of perception (mastering productiveactivity, the child learns to create new objects: modeling, drawing, inventing).
Perceptual systems
In the process of activity, a person constantly needs to solve some tasks that require the perception of the most adequate reflection of the situation. To solve these problems, human perceptual systems are provided. These include:
- visual system;
- auditory;
- musculoskeletal;
- olfactory-gustatory;
- vestibular.
All of them provide the brain with the necessary information that is used for the normal functioning and development of a person, both physically and mentally.
The human sensory-perceptual system
Sensory processes are sensations. A person constantly feels the effects of the outside world on his body: he sees, hears, smells and tastes, feels tactile and temperature effects on his body. And also feels the processes occurring inside the body: hunger, pain, excitement or weakness, etc.
The sensory-perceptual system is constantly developing and improving in the process of human life. This is necessary for the successful adaptation of a person in the world around him. A person's abilities and capabilities depend on the quality of the perception system.
This is especially noticeable when compared with people with developmental disabilities. The life of a person with disabilities (blindness, deafness, dumbness, etc.) is different from the life of an absolutely he althy person. Perceptual actions play a significant role here: the smaller the defect in perception, the easier it is to correct and possibly correct it. This is done by specialists - defectologists.
The importance of the perceptual system for humans
Scientists have been studying the higher mental functions of a person (thinking, memory, arbitrariness of actions) for many years. The interrelation of the system of perception and activity with the development of human thinking was proved. In turn, thinking has a significant impact on the state of a person, on his abilities and capabilities. Perception refers to the highest mental functions of a person.
In order to live, a person needs to constantly reflect the surrounding reality and show a response to the perceived information. Perception just provides an individual and at the same time an adequate reflection of reality. This is especially important for solving perceptual problems. Perceptual actions in the process of perception play an important role, they ensure the full development of the human psyche.
To put it simply, to be he althy and happy, a person needs to be involved in some kind of activity. The brain is designed in such a way that it constantly needs to process and assimilate new information, otherwise it starts to “get lazy”. And a "lazy brain" is the first step to developing dementia.
The influence of cultural and historical experience on a person
Modern man is so accustomed to freely receive any information that he does not even think that this is the resultactivities of a large number of people. Their contribution to the development of modern society is colossal. Everything that a person can and knows is not only his merit, but also the property of society as a whole.
Perception is a system of perceptual actions that are mastered in the process of special training and practice. A child can master sensory standards only with the help of an adult who guides him and helps him identify the most significant features of objects and situations. This is very important for the analysis of reality and the systematization of the child's personal sensory experience.
There are cases when children were deprived of communication with their own kind. These are the so-called "children of Mowgli", raised by animals. Even after returning them to human society, it was rarely possible to adapt them to human society.
Do adults have perceptual activity?
Since perceptual actions are actions of learning and cognition, it may seem that they are inherent only in childhood. However, this is not the case: every time an adult learns something new (a hobby, a new profession, foreign languages, etc.), the system of perceptual actions is activated, which helps to quickly master new knowledge and skills.
Man is a unique creature, his possibilities are endless, and all this is due to consciousness and psyche. It is they who distinguish a person from all living things on the planet. Only man is able to arbitrarily regulate his activities in accordance withwith your desires. Human activity is not chaotic and unsystematic, but is part of the structure of consciousness and thinking. Until now, scientists around the world are studying the human psyche, making new discoveries - and still it remains a mystery.
