Final answer:
Subconscious and unconscious processes play a crucial role in shaping our perception. Influences from biases, cultural experiences, and alterations in states of consciousness can lead to a perception of reality that is not always an accurate reflection of sensory input. Psychologists posit that much of our behavior and perception is influenced by factors over which we have little conscious control.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is clear from various psychological studies that both subconscious and unconscious processes have a significant effect on perception. Our perception is not simply a direct outcome of sensory input but is heavily influenced by our unconscious biases, prejudices, and cultural experiences. For example, social constructs often operate on a subconscious level and these constructs can influence the decisions we make, even if we are not presently aware of them. Similarly, research suggests that our biases can lead to different perceptions of the same situation depending on the racial context. Additionally, we do not always perceive a full or complete picture of the world around us. Our brain unconsciously adjusts the images we perceive, essentially giving us a summary that is most relevant for our survival and well-being, which might not necessarily be a true representation of reality.
The work of psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung underlines the notion that much of what drives our behavior and thoughts happens outside of our conscious awareness. They posited that the human subconscious harbors thoughts and motivations over which we have no control. This subconscious processing can influence how we perceive our environment, the judgments we make, and even the memories we recall.
Furthermore, alterations in our state of consciousness, such as those occurring during sleep, dreaming, meditation, or intoxication, can lead us to experience different perceptions than when we are in our ordinary, waking state. Various biological rhythms also play a role in modulating our conscious and subconscious experiences, which in turn can alter the way we perceive the world around us.