Final answer:
Subliminal perception occurs when a stimulus is presented below the absolute threshold, meaning it's detected by the sensory system but not consciously perceived. While our brains can process such information, the effect on behavior is minimal outside lab settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Subliminal Perception and Its Threshold
For subliminal perception to occur, the stimulus must be presented below the level of the consumer's awareness, which is below the absolute threshold. An absolute threshold refers to the minimum amount of stimulus energy required to be detected 50% of the time. Anything below this threshold is considered subliminal, meaning that the stimulus is received, but not consciously perceived. While there is some evidence suggesting that we can process information outside of our conscious awareness, the effects of subliminal messages on behavior are minimal, particularly outside of controlled laboratory conditions.
The concept of perception in psychology involves both bottom-up and top-down processing, with bottom-up processing being driven by sensory input from the environment, while top-down processing is driven by knowledge and expectations.