Final answer:
Perceptual consistency refers to the process by which individuals select, ignore, and distort information to create a coherent and homogenous perception, often influenced by cognitive biases like confirmation bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question refers to the concept of perceptual consistency, which is the tendency to select, ignore, and distort cues in a way that creates a unified and consistent perception of the target. In psychology, particularly in the realm of cognitive biases, this concept describes how our expectations, experiences, and personalities shape our interpretation of sensory information. For instance, one cognitive bias called confirmation bias describes the tendency to seek out, interpret, favor, or remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs. This tendency can shape our perception to fit a consistent narrative rather than reflecting the true diversity or contradiction present in the actual information.