ABSTRACT

We are not objective surveyors of our worlds. Rather, the decoding of sensory input (imperfect at best1) is influenced by our experiences and expectations, and different people view the world through different lenses (Heuer, 1999). This filtering process creates mindsets. Quick to form, but resistant to change, mindsets are neither good nor bad. They serve a purpose but, under certain conditions, can become problematic. Because perception is based on both awareness and understanding, we often perceive what we expect to perceive. Reaching premature conclusions is therefore dangerous. Communication is doubly subjective as it involves two people. What the speaker means, what he or she says, what the listener hears, and how he or she interprets the communication may not all be the same. Words such as “tall,” “young,” “likely,” and “dangerous” are subjective, with various meanings depending on the situation and experiences of the individual.