Personal values as selective factors in perception.

Emotionality and perceptual defense.

“…More recently the same authors have shown that frustration, induced by sarcasm and criticism, will raise the perceptual thresholds of observers to tachistoscopically-presented words. When, on the other hand, individuals are faced with stimulus objects which are not actually threatening, but which represent for them areas of little interest or some antipathy, they also generally display raised thresholds of recognition (10).…”

“…No longer do we view perception as organized solely in terms of the structural characteristics of stimulus objects or the frequency with which the individual has been exposed to these objects. Perceptions are structured not only with respect to the limiting stimulus conditions, but also with regard to the possibilities of reward (11,12), need fulfillment (1, 7), attitudinal orientation (10), potential anxiety (4), symbolic value (3), and release from tension (2), to mention just a few. In order to describe such facts as the perceptual selection and accentuation of valued objects and the elimination or distortion of inimical stimulus objects, it has been found convenient to invoke mechanisms of sensitization, defense, and value resonance (10), vigilance (2), and primitivation (4).…”

Content-Based Approach in Exploring the Cognitive Structure of Values

“…Once internalized, a value system functions in several ways, affecting an individual's perceptual processes in the manner that external stimuli are perceived in ways that are in consistency with that individual's value structure (Postman, Bruner & McGinnies, 1948;Williams, 1979). Values also serve to legitimize operations, providing justifications for an individual's behavior (Williams, 1979;Nord, Brief, Atieh & Doherty, 1988), and directly affecting behavior, encouraging individuals to act in accordance with their values (e.g., Rokeach, 1973;Williams, 1979).…”

When women can’t do math: The interplay of self-construal, group identification, and stereotypic performance standards

“…Based on the notion that self-related information receives preferential attention (Bargh, 1982;Bargh & Pratto, 1986;Geller & Shaver, 1976;Moray, 1959;Postman, Bruner, & McGinnies, 1948), we assume that group-based information is more likely to receive attention in participants who see the respective group as an important aspect of their self-concept. Because group-related information is more self-relevant in high identifiers, stronger effects of group-based expectancies should emerge in high (versus low) identifiers.…”