Lecture on Distortion in Perception

Key Concepts

• Distortion: Altering the structure, shape, or content of information to fit one's existing knowledge.

Examples and Analogies

• Children's Shape Sorter Toy: Analogy to explain distortion.
  • A baby gets a star-shaped block but doesn't know the shape.
  • The baby might cut down the corners mentally to fit it into a circular hole.

Class Activity

• OHM Exercise: Asked students to think of "OHM"
  • Responses varied widely: ritual, garden gnome, keto, name, electricity, person.
  • Demonstrates how different minds distort the unknown to something known.

Personal Example

• Lecturer thinks of Coca-Cola Dome when hearing "OHM" because of a personal memory.
  • Shows how personal experiences influence distortion.

Student Examples

• Word "cat": Different associations based on personal experiences.
  • Graphic design, caterpillar, furry animal, computer application technology, Central African Time, drugs.
  • A recovering addict might think of drugs, while a new pet owner might think of their cat.

Conclusion

• Distortion: Our minds alter unknown information to fit it into known categories or experiences.
• Generalization: Mentioned as the next topic to be discussed.