Context plays a crucial role in shaping our perception of events from "summary" of The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris,Daniel Simons
Our perception of events is heavily influenced by the context in which they occur. The way we interpret and make sense of what we see is not solely determined by the information entering our eyes and ears. Rather, our brains take in that information and combine it with our expectations, beliefs, and past experiences to create a coherent narrative. In many cases, we see what we expect to see, or what we believe should be there, rather than what is actually in front of us. This phenomenon, known as inattentional blindness, occurs when we fail to notice unexpected objects or events simply because we are not paying attention to them. Our attention is limited, and we can only focus on a small portion of the vast amount of information bombarding us at any given moment. Even when we do notice something unusual or unexpected, our brains may still struggle to make sense of it within the context of our existing beliefs and expectations. This can lead to errors in judgment and decision-making, as we may misinterpret or overlook important details that do not fit with our preconceived notions. Moreover, our perceptions can be influenced by the social and cultural context in which we find ourselves. The opinions and actions of others around us can shape how we view a situation, leading us to conform to group norms or adopt shared biases without even realizing it.- The way we perceive events is not a straightforward process of inputting sensory information and producing an objective understanding of reality. Instead, our perceptions are shaped by a complex interplay of internal and external factors that color our view of the world. It is important to be aware of these influences and to approach our perceptions with a critical eye, questioning our assumptions and striving to see beyond the limits of our own perspective.
