Difference Between Perception and Judgement

Key Difference – Perception vs Judgement
 

Perception and Judgement are two mental processes. Perception is how we take in information or make sense of a situation. Judgement is the way we evaluate this information and make decisions or form opinions based on it. Therefore, perception and judgement are two consecutive processes, and perception is always followed by a judgement. The key difference between perception and judgement is that perception is how you sense a situation whereas judgement is how you react to that situation after consideration.

What Does Perception Mean?

Perception refers to the way in which you make sense of a situation. In other words, this is a process we use to take in information from the outside world. Perception involves senses and intuitions. The well-known psychiatrist and psychotherapist Carl Jung identified two mental functions people use to perceive information.

Sensing Perception: The process of collecting data through the five senses

Intuitive Perception: The process of collecting data by making connections and inferring meanings beyond sensory data

Thus, it is clear that our five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, as well as intuitions help us to make sense of a situation. Perception is also related to judgement.

What Does Judgement Mean?

Judgement is a decision, conclusion or an opinion made after consideration or deliberation. Judgment is used to evaluate the information and make decisions. It can also be interpreted as a reaction to perception; you start analysing or evaluating after you perceive information. So, judgement always follows perception.

Jung also identifies two functions in judgement:

Thinking Judgment: The process that evaluates information by applying objective and logical criteria

Feeling Judgment: The process that evaluates information by considering personal/interpersonal ethics and morality

As seen by this classifications, we tend to make a decision using these two methods. However, both these methods of judgment are used after perceiving a situation using senses or intuitions.

What is the difference between Perception and Judgement?

Definition:

Perception refers to the way in which you sense of a situation.

Judgement refers to the way in which you make decisions after analysing and evaluating your perceptions.

Sequence:

Perception occurs before judgment.

Judgement occurs after perception.

Classification:

Perception can happen through the five senses or the intuition of a person.

Judgement evaluates information through a logical and impersonal process or personal beliefs or morality.

 Image Courtesy:

“Judgement” (CC BY-SA 3.0 NY) via The Blue Diamond Gallery

“Conceptual process of perception” By Marcel Douwe Dekker (Mdd) – Self-made, based on an own standard ( CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia