Final answer:
Selective perception is the process of perceiving what we want in media messages while ignoring opposing viewpoints, a form of cognitive bias that influences how we process information and make judgments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question 'Because it is impossible for us to assimilate everything we see, we engage in ________.' is D. selective perception. This term refers to the process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages while ignoring opposing viewpoints.
It is a form of cognitive bias that causes people to pay attention to certain parts of a complex sensory input based on what is relevant to their own needs, interests, or prior beliefs while disregarding the rest.
Cognitive biases like confirmation bias and the actor-observer bias influence how we process information and make judgments about the world around us.
For example, confirmation bias leads us to seek out information that reinforces our pre-existing beliefs, whereas the actor-observer bias affects how we attribute causes to our and others' behaviors, often differently. These biases illustrate why we do not always receive a full or accurate picture of reality.
Understanding and being aware of cognitive biases can cultivate better critical thinking and help to minimize the distortions in perception and judgment they can cause.