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| On 2006-05-01 15:04:09 -0700, "howdydave" <howdydave@msn.com> said:
> Howdy Puma!
>
> Sounds like maybe I have an extra step in the sequence.
>
> It sounds as if what you are calling "perception" is what
> I am calling "interpritation."
>
> Perception is the outside world getting into the mind.
>
> Interpretation and dogmatism have to do with taking
> the information and saying "what does this mean?"
> As I see it, dogmatism is mearly interpretation without
> any analysis involved. I interprit it to mean this because
> this is what I was taught that it means (or something to
> that effect.)
>
> Dave
We do a lot of interpretation subconsciously. For example when we look
at a painting that has perspective, the mind needs to interpret the
image to look 3 dimensional. Also factors such as genomes and
neurotransmitters can have a role in altering interpretation of the
world. If my body releases "hunger" neurotransmitters and I pass by a
bakery with a delicious aroma, there is a good chance I will interpret
this cue to mean those muffins look especially yummy. Without the
"hunger" neurotransmitters I may pass the bakery with no notice.
Is heuristic interpretation what you are referring to as dogmatism?
That I believe is the proper psychological term for this effect. As a
strategy to filter out the massive data input we have perceptually we
have to set up some rules of interpretation. Of course we can all fall
into traps involving making heuristics into habit, but a small amount
of mindfulness goes a long way into making us aware of these
shortcomings. This is the basis for cognitive psychology a form of
psychology heavily influenced by Buddhism.
As for how much our interpretation of the world is colored by genetics,
brain chemistry, emotional states and so on, we can not really be privy
as to their effects. Most of these effects are transparent to us. It
is a form of hidden denial. You may be attracted to a certain person
and not know why. No amount of analysis can unlock why. But
attraction to this type of person may be programed into your genetic
make up.
Although yoga does give a chance to step back and experience how we
color our world, I am not sure yoga by itself can truly see the
influence of unconscious modifiers on the faculties of perception.
--
~Stu
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