World views & perception; lookiing at the world in different ways

- Chapter 3 -
Perception

"The world as we know it is a construction, a finished product, and almost - one might say - a manufactured article, to which the mind contributes as much by its molding forms as the thing contributes by its stimuli." Those words were written by Will Durant (1926) in his book The Story of Philosophy. Similar realizations have been made throughout recorded history, and this principle has only become more verifiable as science has grown and progressed. The mind really does make things "what they are." Each of us approaches life through our own clouded vision, and this distortion of reality shapes our experiences.

Turnball (1961) talks about what he experienced as an anthropologist the day a pigmy took his first trip out of the dense tropical forest - a place he had lived in for his entire life. Upon stepping out into the open African plains, a herd of buffalo appeared in the distance, and the pigmy asked what kind of insects they were. The anthropologist responded by telling the pigmy that those dots on the horizon were buffalo, but reports "when I told Kenge that the insects were buffalo, he roared with laughter and told me not to tell such stupid lies." Growing up in a dense rainforest with no views beyond the nearest trees, he simply lacked the proper perspective to understand what he was seeing. Another villager in a completely different part of the world described an airplane as "a house in the shape of a fish flying through the air." (Larmer, 2008) It's amazing how two people can look upon the same thing and form two completely different ideas about its meaning.

While few of us would confuse buffalo for insects, we all have numerous ways in which our limited perception deceives our minds about reality. We all look at the world through distorted lenses that bend and twist our experiences worse than a funny-house mirror. The reason psychologists started using inkblots with patients was not because they have a fine appreciation for finger art, but because each person can see the same thing and interpret it in an entirely different manner.

Examples of Perceptual Differences

Human beings tend to be a lot more adaptable than we pretend we are. We can be conditioned to virtually any situation, and have the ability to find just about anything comforting and enjoyable, or uncomfortable and painful, depending on our perception. Let's take a moment to explore just how varied this perception can be:

1. Beautiful Disfigurations
In one African tribe, it is tradition to pierce the lower chin just beneath the lip, and to stick a wooden rod through the piercing. When I say rod, I mean it. These things are bigger than broomstick handles. They insert this round, six inch piece of wood into their face wherever they go. Why do they do this? Because it's attractive . . . Duh! "Anyone without them is ugly," one child affirms. Children receive their rods as toddlers, gradually having bigger ones inserted into their face as they grow. When you and I see such things, attractive is probably the last word that comes to our mind. But because this child had been conditioned to seeing people with poles through their faces, anyone lacking such lumber looked legitimately ugly to her.

2. Pleasure or Pain?
In many parts of the world, parents and caregivers will routinely stroke or otherwise stimulate a child's genitals as a means of relaxing them or calming them down. It's often a normal bedtime routine, similar to the way a parent in this country might rub a child's back or stroke their cheek. Other parents in other cultures commonly stroke or manipulate a child’s genitals while breastfeeding. If you tried to make the argument that the activity was abusive, they would probably look at you like you were crazy. After all, you don't hear any complaints from the kids, and as suprising as it may seem to people in our cluture, such youngsters seem to grow up without any problems, becoming happy, healthy adults. (Langfeldt, 1981, p43; Freud, 1995)

3. Salad With A Side of Crickets
How do you like your pasta? Topped with meatballs? Alfredo sauce? Would you like one topped with crickets? How about a salad adorned with larvae? Or here's a real treat: roasted fire ants. Whether or not your stomach is growling or churning probably depends a lot on where you live and how you were raised. If the thought of eating bugs sounds unpleasant to you, ask yourself: Why? After all, a cricket, cockroach or beetle (all considered delicacies in many parts of the world) are essentially the same thing as shrimp. Perhaps bugs are just too creepy-crawly and alien looking to be appetizing. But then again, how attractive is a lobster? Those buggy eyes, the antenna, the pinchers, the numerous legs...lobster is little more than an oversized bug that lives in the sea. Plus, bugs pack way more protein per pound than beef or chicken, and are actually better for the environment.

The point is, if you're like most people in the United States, you were utterly repulsed at the thought of eating bugs. Yet that wasn't because eating a bug is any ickier than eating the other things we eat here, but IT ONLY SEEMS THAT WAY because we were raised with a different perspective. To kids elsewhere, roasted fire ants are a sweet delicacy that they'll chase after like candy. (Richmond/Walsh, 6-9-08; PBS, 6/14/2009) All around the world, more than 1,400 insect species show up on menus. (NGC, 9-28-08) In China, you'll find that scorpions and barbecued dragonflies are commonplace. You might also want to stop by a local joint for some donkey penis or brain while you're there. (Wise, 2008) By the way, if you're still utterly repulsed by the idea and snuff up your nose at the idea of eating bugs, we have news for you: you're eating bugs and don't even realize it. Most of the food products we consume contain an allowable degree of things such as fly eggs, maggots, or other insect parts. All told, "you're probably ingesting 1 to 2 pounds of flies, maggots, and mice each year without knowing it." (Levy, 2009) Yummy.

Continued next page:
Examples of Perception across Different Cultures