Peacebuilding Manual/Perception
Perception
Perceptions are central to how we communicate and act in conflict situations. In our everyday routines, we interpret events or conversations based upon our past experiences, religious and cultural background, and even our mood. Our senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch also influence our interpretation. What we believe to be true is relative to who we are. In any situation, multiple interpretations exist. Our perception of events, information, people, or relationships influences how we communicate, how we see and act in conflict, and how we define solutions to problems. Conflict and communication are intimately tied to perceptions. How we see the world depends upon where we stand, and where we stand is affected by our beliefs that are grounded in our culture, religion, family background, status, gender, and personal experiences. Individuals who experience the same event who come from the same general background will still come up with different perspectives on that event, and define “truth” in that setting in different ways.