Context and popular culture Sway perception
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
Context And Prominent Popular Culture Sway Perception
By David Hennessy, Clinical Psychologist
As human beings, we are all walking through the same world, yet none of us truly shares the same moment in the same way. Our perception is shaped by our history, our physiology, our personal beliefs, our cultural experiences, and even the stories circulating around us.
One of the key things that motivated me to pursue that deeply challenging change from being a marine mechanic to becoming a counsellor and eventually a clinical psychologist was my fascination with how we are all looking at the same world but each of us is seeing each moment differentl,y depending on individual factors.
How We Believe We See The World
We often think of ourselves as rational beings observing reality as it is. Yet decades of psychological science show that perception is not a passive process. It is an interpretive act. Each of us constructs a personal narrative that helps us organise experience and navigate the world [1,2,3].
Our minds weave together memory, emotion, expectation, culture and personal history to create a sense of meaning. While people often share broad similarities, no two individuals ever experience a moment in exactly the same way.
How Context Shapes What We See
Our context is more than the situation we are in. It includes:
- our physical state such as fatigue, hunger or pain
- our emotional tone at the time
- our personal and cultural history
- the brain’s predictions and expectations
- current stress levels
- the cultural messages and media influences we absorb
Two people can walk into the same room and feel entirely different things. One may feel calm and open. Another may feel tense or overwhelmed. Behaviour makes sense when we recognise that perception is always shaped by the context of the perceiver [2,4].
Popular Culture And The Stories That Influence Us
Popular culture plays a powerful role in shaping perception. Films, television, social media and public narratives influence how we understand identity, coping, relationships, success and emotional expression.
Some messages are helpful. Some are unrealistic. Many operate quietly in the background. When we measure ourselves against cultural stories rather than our own values, distress and confusion can arise.
A gentle approach involves noticing these influences with curiosity and choosing responses guided by meaning rather than pressure.
Why This Matters For Psychological Health
The brain is not a recorder. It is a prediction engine. It interprets experience based on memory, expectations, beliefs and sensory input [5,6,7]. These processes shape perception, emotion and behaviour in every moment.
In therapy, understanding these processes helps people:
- respond with more compassion toward themselves
- reduce self-criticism
- see behaviour in context
- clarify values and intentions
- increase psychological flexibility
- feel more grounded and less overwhelmed
Moving Forward With Awareness And Compassion
We all interpret the world through filters shaped by context, history and culture. This is not a flaw. It is part of being human. Awareness creates choice, and choice supports change.
Approaching ourselves and others with curiosity rather than judgement opens space for insight, connection and growth.
If your perception is creating distress or confusion, therapy offers a supportive place to explore your meaning making with compassion and clarity.
References
- Bruner, J. (1991). The narrative construction of reality. Critical Inquiry, 18(1), 1–21.
- Neisser, U. (1967). Cognitive psychology. Appleton Century Crofts.
- Bartlett, F. C. (1932). Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. Cambridge University Press.
- Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis: An essay on the organisation of experience. Harper and Row.
- Sprevak, M., & Smith, R. (2023). An introduction to predictive processing models of perception and decision making. Topics in Cognitive Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.12704
- de Lange, F. P., Heilbron, M., & Kok, P. (2018). How do expectations shape perception? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22(9), 764–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2018.06.002
- Walsh, K. S., McGovern, D. P., Clark, A., & O’Connell, R. G. (2020). Evaluating the neurophysiological evidence for predictive processing. Frontiers in Psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7187369/
- Pezzulo, G., et al. (2019). Symptom perception from a predictive processing perspective. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7081568/
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