Editing Perception management (section)

{{Short description|Influence tactic}}
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'''Perception management''' is a term originated by the [[US military]].{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} The [[United States Department of Defense|US Department of Defense]] (DOD) gives this definition:
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Actions to convey and/or [[censorship|deny selected information]] and indicators to foreign audiences to [[psychological manipulation|influence]] their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning as well as to [[Military intelligence|intelligence systems]] and leaders at all levels to influence official estimates, ultimately resulting in foreign behaviors and official actions favorable to the originator's objectives. In various ways, perception management combines [[propaganda|truth projection]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalissues.org/article/532/media-manipulation|title=Media Manipulation|author=Anup Shah|date=April 17, 2006}}</ref> [[operations security]], cover and [[Military deception|deception]], and [[psychological warfare|psychological operations]].<ref>[http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108082044/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |date=2009-11-08 }}, Joint Publication 1-02, 12 April 2001 (As Amended Through 17 December 2003)</ref>}}

"Perception" is defined as the "process by which individuals select, organize, and interpret the input from their senses to give meaning and order to the world around them".<ref name="George">{{cite web|last=George|first=Jennifer|title=Chapter 4: Perception, Attribution, and the Management of Diversity|url=http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/1598/1636589/GJ4_PPT04S.ppt|access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref> This definition overlaps with the higher-order [[perception|perceptual]] processes as defined biologically (the lower-order biological processes are not susceptible to management; these low-level processes include underlying perceptual categorization performed ''prior'' to conscious categorization.<ref>{{cite book|last=Feldman Barrett|first=Lisa|title=How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain|date=2016|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=978-0544133310|page=<!-- pervasive theme -->}}</ref>). Components of perception include the perceiver, target of perception, and the situation. 
Factors that influence the perceiver include:
* [[Schema (psychology)|Schema]]: organization and interpretation of information based on past experiences and knowledge
* Motivational state: needs, values, and desires of a perceiver at the time of perception
* [[Mood (psychology)|Mood]]: emotions of the perceiver at the time of perception
Factors that influence the target include:
* [[Ambiguity]]: a lack of clarity. If ambiguity increases, the perceiver may find it harder to form an accurate perception
* [[Social status]]: a person's real or perceived position in society or in an organization
* [[Impression management]]: an attempt to control the perceptions or impressions of others. Targets are likely to use impression management tactics when interacting with perceivers who have power over them. Several impression management tactics include behavioral matching between the target of perception and the perceiver, self-promotion (presenting one's self in a positive light), conforming to situational norms, appreciating others, or being consistent.<ref name="George"/>