This isn't the first time I've written about perceptions. Some folks would use the word misperception,but I really don't agree with that. What I'm talking about is the way we perceive. what filters we mentally place that color, and distort our perceptions. Misperception means that we've seen, or perceived something incorrectly. A fine word, the problem I have with it is that "perception" does not mean that we have seen something correct. That what we perceive is truth.
I manage security teams for a living, and the reports my staff prepare are endless. I insist that the reports be as detailed and accurate as possible. I need to know exactly what that staff member perceived. I also know that no matter how well trained, conscientious, and dedicated my people are, what they write down will not be the "truth". You see, there is no need for the word misperception, because perceptions are flawed at the outset.
Years ago I was in a class on investigation. We were learning how to dig through all the chaff to find that precious kernel of fact. This particular class was on eye witness accounts, and in the middle of it masked bandits broke into the room and kidnapped the instructor. Of course this was staged and in our infinite wisdom my classmates and I knew we had it nailed. we were just starting to tell each other what had happened when the instructor returned and called us to attention. (yes this was in the military police) He then had us write a report including descriptions of the kidnappers with out speaking to our classmates.
We were then dismissed for lunch and when we returned we had to write yet another report on the incident, this time we could talk with each other. While we were at lunch the instructors had taken our original reports and broke down the description of the subjects. the only thing that everyone in the class agreed on was that the subjects wore dark clothing and some kind of full head mask like a ski-mask or balaclava. We couldn't agree even on the color. The instructors then went over the second report. Strangely enough these reports almost matched perfectly. There were fifty students in the class and close to ninety percent agreed that the subjects were: six in number, wore black jeans, sweaters, and ski-masks. They were all male and were all caucasian. So far so good, we thought.
The next four hours of the class were dedicated to the instructors going over the original reports and using them to get a full picture of what had happened. According to their analysis, the subjects: Were eight in number possibly six males and two females. Wore dark (navy blue or black) long sleeved tops and dark work pants. All wore dark gloves, and masks. One of the males had dark olive skin and spoke with a "Hispanic" accent.
Now that was something we could work on. The next day the instructors proceeded to teach us how to conduct an interview, to winnow out the chaff. We were also introduced to the subjects (all upperclassmen), who turned out to be six men, three women, (we missed one standing in the back) five were caucasian, three were African-American, and one man's ancestors came from Japan. That last man was the spokesman for the group and used a really bad fake Mexican accent stolen right from a Taco Bell commercial. He was also the only one not wearing a balaclava, but instead wore a stocking cap and a Zorro mask. Not only did that class teach us that eye witness testimony isn't accurate, but that everyone, everywhere filters their perceptions, no matter how exacting and professional they are, and that most importantly we allow others to alter our perceptions just in case we're not "right".
Truth is the most elusive concept we have. It is a bright jewel that hangs just out of reach and we can't see it. We know it's there, and sometimes we even brush it. But as soon as we're sure we have a good grip it slips away.
Human beings want to be correct, no not just correct. They want to be right! We never really are. We are flawed. We allow our misguided filtered perceptions to convince us that we know the truth, when maybe we have just brushed it. In some cases we aren't even in the same room. In other cases we have it in our hands and refuse to see it.
I joke that I'm suspicious by nature and paranoid by profession. To a great extent that's true. Frankly I have to be that way. People rely on me to find out what happened. Since I know my perceptions are flawed I am very cautious about what I consider to be the "truth". If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and swims like a duck. I still want DNA evidence and three sworn affidavits from experts.
In other words I do the best I can. That is all any of us can do and I find it helps to realize my own faults. If something really hits my preconceptions, just makes my emotions go off the chart, that is the time to step back and be suspicious. Our sense of outrage can and will make us crazy. Unfortunately we don't keep it to ourselves. We grab our neighbors and friends (sometimes metaphorically sometimes not) and shout. "Can you believe this? Isn't it horrible? Something must be done!!!" We cause a great stir, get everyone worked up and soon this flawed perception has a life of it's own like a Frankenstein monster. Lets all remember that monsters like this can cause injury and death. Sometimes metaphorically, and sometimes not.
We find it easy to be critical of others, we also find it easy to be critical of ourselves. What we should be critical of is perceptions. Or I should say what other people tell us are "true" perceptions. Think thing through, check the facts, disregard the things that make you want to turn the monster loose, and most of all trust your instincts. Most of us have good ones and they get better when we continually back them up with facts. The great part about being human is that you can learn if you're not afraid to.
So remember if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, but you smell a rat. Check for a rodent covered in feathers.
Take care of each other and yourself.
Larry
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