The Science of Different Realities & Perception
🔍 Key insights
Perception is constructed, not received – Our brains interpret sensory data based on prior experience and context, meaning we each live in a slightly different reality.
Disagreements often stem from different sensory assumptions – It's not just about opinions. Even basic perception—like color or sound—can vary dramatically from person to person.
The SURFPAD model shows how our assumptions shape our world – When the signal is ambiguous, it’s our embedded knowledge and prior beliefs that determine what we "see." This has profound implications for empathy and conflict.
📚 Go deeper
🎥 Related videos:
Why Your Brain Blinds You For 2 Hours Every Day – A Kurzgesagt deep dive into how reality might different than what we believe
This Audio Illusion Will Trick Your Ears (by AsapSCIENCE) – A playful but insightful explanation of how auditory illusions work
📖 Further reading:
How Minds Change by David McRaney – An outstanding look into belief formation, perception, and empathy, all grounded in cognitive science.
The User Illusion by Tor Nørretranders – Goes deep into consciousness and how little of reality we actually perceive.
🎧 Podcast to listen to:
“How Your Beliefs Shape Reality” By Hidden Brain — A deep dive into how your core assumptions shape the way you perceive the world, and how recognizing this can lead to greater understanding and harmony.
💡 Think for Yourself
What assumptions might be unconsciously shaping how I interpret my world — and my disagreements?
☁️ Thought Experiment
Imagine you grew up in a world without mirrors. Everything you know about your own face comes from others’ descriptions. Now ask: who really sees the 'real' you — yourself, or everyone else? What if the same idea applies to how we interpret events, arguments, or truth itself?
Cheers,
Kevin