Search

We introduce two propositions for understanding top-down effects on perception. First, perception is not a unitary construct but is composed of multiple components. Second, behavior is multiply determined by cognitive processes. We call for a process-oriented research approach to perception and use our own research on moral perception as a "case study of case studies" to examine these issues.

Based on emerging research, we propose that human perception is preferentially attuned to moral content. We describe how moral concerns enhance detection of morally relevant stimuli, and both command and direct attention. These perceptual processes, in turn, have important consequences for moral judgment and behavior., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Highlights: [•] We examined whether moral concerns shape awareness of ambiguous stimuli. [•] Participants saw moral and non-moral words in a lexical decision task. [•] Moral and non-moral words were matched on length, and frequency in lexicon. [•] Participants correctly identified moral words more frequently than non-moral words. [•] This experiments suggest that moral values may shape perceptual awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]