Cognition vs Perception
Is there a distinction between cognition and perception, or do they have the same meaning? To explore this question, consider the world we live in – one full of information. In our daily lives, we have the ability to select the necessary information for our tasks. Perception is the process that enables us to make sense of the information around us through organization, identification, and interpretation by using our senses. We can also respond to our environment using this information. In contrast, cognition refers to various mental processes, such as attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. Perception can be seen as a cognitive skill or ability that helps improve the quality of cognitive abilities. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these two terms and clarify their differences.
What does Cognition mean?
Cognition is defined as the mental processes that help us remember, think, know, judge, and solve problems. It essentially helps an individual understand the world around them and acquire knowledge. All human actions result from cognitive processes. These cognitive abilities can range from simple to highly complex and can include both conscious and unconscious processes. Attention, memory, visual and spatial processing, motor, and perception are some of the mental processes. This indicates that perception can also be viewed as a cognitive ability. Cognition is an area of interest for academics and scientists in many disciplines because its capacities and functions are extensive and applicable to numerous fields.
What does Perception mean?
Perception is the process of interpreting the things around us through sensory stimuli, such as sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. When we receive sensory information, we not only identify it but also respond to the environment accordingly. In daily life, we heavily rely on this sensory information for even the smallest tasks. For example, when crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, we typically look both ways before crossing. In this situation, the sensory information acquired through sight and sound signals us to cross the road. This demonstrates that perception is a crucial cognitive skill that enables people to function effectively. This skill or ability does not require much effort from the individual, as it is one of the simplest cognitive processes.
What is the difference between Cognition and Perception?
- Cognition includes various mental processes, such as attention, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving.
- Perception is the process that enables us to make sense of the information around us through organization, identification, and interpretation using our senses.
- The main difference is that cognition encompasses a variety of skills and processes, while perception is a cognitive skill or ability that helps enhance the quality of cognitive abilities.
