Final answer:
The TRUE statement about understanding perceptions is that perceptions can be influenced by individual biases and past experiences. Perceptions are complex processes that are not solely objective or consistent due to varying personal and cultural factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the videos and the associated readings, the statement about understanding perceptions that is TRUE is C) Perceptions can be influenced by biases and past experiences. Our perceptions are not merely passive receptions of the world around us; rather, they are active processes built from sensory input but shaped by individual biases, past experiences, cultural contexts, emotions, and expectations. These aspects can cause perceptions to differ significantly between individuals, and they can also result in inaccuracies such as illusions, stereotypes, and prejudiced views. Moreover, even within the context of direct realism, where it is believed that we perceive objects in the external world directly, there is an acknowledgement that such perceptions are not immune to the possibility of error due to hallucinations or illusions. The process of seeing and interpreting the world is far from a straightforward one, as our perceptual set and perceptual hypotheses can skew reality.