Can We Train Our Perception?

1). Is it possible to perceive others without judging or categorizing them? If so, how? If not, how can we make the judgments we do make, more fair?


Thinking long and hard on this question I have come to the conclusion that if it is not impossible, then it is extremely difficult NOT to judge/ categorize or size-up someone during an initial perception phase. We can however, train ourselves to perceive fairer and more accurately.

I cannot imagine just seeing someone without judging them. Especially when I meet someone all sorts of things run through my mind involuntarily. Things such as their honesty, credibility, and character get evaluated. In fact, receiving a firm handshake can force you to judge someone as strong or weak just from the mere contact.

Without this instinct most people would leave themselves vulnerable to all sorts of “predatorial” approaches. But can we become fairer in the perceptions we make of people? The issue of racial profiling comes to mind. Some may call racial profiling among police officers good policing, because people those who fit the profile of most criminals are singled out and detained. But then we have to ask ourselves if this tactic is equitable even though it may be effective.

As far as making it fairer when evaluating people, I think the most reasonable course of action to take is to educate yourself about the categories of the people you judge most strongly, whether positively or negatively. Information, education, and logic should be the brush strokes that paint a fairer and more accurate picture. What drives people to make rash judgments is ignorance and irrationality. This is not to say that because everyone becomes educated that everyone will be friends. What I mean to say is that with the proper tools people will get sized-up more accurately. These are just some of the ways how we can train to give ourselves more precise judgments of people.

Side Note: I highly recommend the book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell for an interesting read on our subconscious perceptions, and how powerful they really can be.