Final answer:
The first step in the perception process is observation. Confirmation bias is when information is sought that supports pre-existing stereotypes, and deductive reasoning is when a general theory leads to a specific conclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step in the perception process is observation. Observation is the act of noticing or perceiving something and is essential in forming the basis of any subsequent steps in the perception process. Once you observe, then you can move on to interpreting, analyzing, and possibly stereotyping or making attributions.
When we seek out information that supports our stereotypes we are engaged in confirmation bias. This is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preconceptions or hypotheses.
The form of reasoning that begins with a general theory and arrives at a specific conclusion after observing a body of information is known as deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning starts with a general statement or hypothesis and examines the possibilities to reach a specific, logical conclusion.