Much has been said about “reality” throughout human history. Truth has sometimes been defined by science, sometimes by faith, sometimes by ideology. But today, it is based neither on experience nor reason. Reality is now constructed through images, word games, repetition and daily manipulation. In this order, where the real is replaced by the seemingly real, societies are not only ruled, but their ideas about what is true, what is important, what is beautiful or dangerous are also shaped.
Although we are armed with the achievements of the information age, this age is also an age of Age of Perception’s perception of the world. The thoughts and attitudes of people and societies towards events, individuals, institutions and even themselves are largely shaped by the perceptions they are exposed to.
Nowadays, creating perception has become a tool of power rather than a communication strategy.
For populist and autocratic regimes, perception management is an indispensable tool for the continuity of power. Even when such regimes cannot control reality, they can turn it in their favor by controlling perception.
The impact of perception management in social life is not limited to those in power. Today, individuals also have the power to create and spread their own perceptions through social media. However, this pluralistic environment also leads to the spread of information pollution and manipulation.
The foundations of perception over reality were laid especially with postmodern thought. Postmodernism, which rejects the universal rational truths of modernism and ignores values, argues that reality is relative. This situation causes the individual to hold on to the narrative that he believes in what is presented to him, rather than objective reality. Reality has now turned into a preference shaped by fictionalized narratives. It is precisely in this vacuum that perception management thrives; because what matters here is not the truth itself, but what is believed more.
The capitalist system takes advantage of this fragile environment of perception and defines the individual not in terms of his/her real needs but in terms of his/her ever-changing desires. Media, advertising and popular culture ensure that the individual lives with a sense of lack at all times. Perception management makes it possible to sell a product not only for its objective features but also for the symbolic meanings attached to it. The individual buys an identity, a status, a belonging. In this sense, consumption is not only an economic but also a perceptual act.
The most obvious result of perception management in politics is the idealization of mediocrity. The media and especially the social media are capable of portraying the ordinary as extraordinary, the incompetent as charismatic, and the uninformed as the voice of the people. This brings to the fore what we call the choice of the ordinary, preferences that do not pass through a critical filter. Politics with mediocrities becomes a stage where visibility and perception, not merit, rule the day. Thus, the individual follows a well-constructed representation instead of real leadership. By claiming to be the voice of the people, populist leaders create an artificial opposition against the elites and manage the emotions of the people by keeping this conflict alive. Thus, enemies, foreign powers, elites and even traitors are created, shaped by perceptions.
In autocratic systems, the media is already under control. Facts are censored, alternative viewpoints are suppressed and society is constantly kept in a controlled reality. Here, perception management is used not only to win elections, but also to neutralize the opposition, divide the social opposition and prevent the system from being questioned.
Perception management is a tool of sovereignty that operates not only within national borders but also on a global scale. In today's world, media monopolies, technology companies and intelligence centers can shape the public opinion of countries in line with certain interests. Through perception management, wars, occupations or economic sanctions can be supported by the vast majority of societies. This soft power is a much more effective tool of hegemony than physical coercion.
In addition to structural processes, there are also psychological and sociological underpinnings behind individuals' easy submission to perception. Perceptions are not only directed from the top down; they also find strong bases in the inner world of the individual.
When there is a difference between reality and perception, the individual usually accepts what is perceived as real. For example, there may be an economic crisis, but if the crisis is presented as a success story through the media, the masses may see it as less threatening. On the contrary, even if the situation is stable, panic and distrust can prevail by creating the perception of disaster.
Perceptions also shape individuals' roles, identities and relationships in society. Continuously generating negative perceptions about a segment of society paves the way for that group to be excluded, marginalized and their rights to be restricted over time. In this respect, perception has an impact not only on the individual but also on the collective level.
Mental simplicity comes first to mind in the psychological underpinnings of perception formation. The human brain wants to save energy when faced with contradictory, complex or multi-choice situations. Perception creators meet this challenge with simplifying, shortcuts.
Another premise is that people often hear what they want to hear. Perceptions create a psychological comfort zone by providing stories that support an individual's thoughts and beliefs. In a complex world, perceptions also increase the individual's sense of control. Getting rid of uncertainty leads to embracing clarity, even if it is wrong.
In order not to be ostracized and rejected from the society, the individual has the convenience of tending to agree with the perceptions believed by the majority. This herd psychology causes the individual to obey external voices rather than the inner voice.
Perceptions also have sociological bases. Perceptions are the product of the social structure, not the individual mind. Institutions such as religion, politics and culture teach the individual what to think. Reality turns into a fiction constructed together. Likewise, the media determines what is important for society to believe. Thus, the individual interprets events not through his/her own experience, but through images acquired through the media.
The desire to gain identity and belonging is also a sociological basis. Through the perceptions they adopt, people acquire not only an opinion but also a social identity. Belonging to a political view, a lifestyle or a belief system gives the individual both direction and a sense of solidarity.
The lack of skills such as critical thinking, media literacy and scientific inquiry is perhaps the most important factor in the prevalence of perception. In the digital age where it is easier to access information, individuals with poor sorting skills follow the image rather than the truth.
Perception is of course important. Human beings recognize the world through their perceptions. He constructs a meaning through what he sees, hears, reads or is told. Perception is the human mind's search for convenience. Because reality is often complex, full of contradictions and requires courage. Perception, on the other hand, is simple; it predetermines what to think, what to believe and what to oppose. So the individual retreats into a comfortable shell: does not question, does not hesitate, does not investigate. For many, to believe in perception, “getting rid of the burden of thinking” is one way.
However, this renders the individual passive. He acts not with his own mind but with the framework drawn by others. The individual who does not make an effort to reach reality loses this sense completely over time. The media, the majority or the authority determines what to believe and when. Thus, the individual ceases to be an individual and becomes a part of a mass that is merely manipulated.
Today, Perception Management is both the most powerful tool of power and the greatest tool of mental threat. In a world where perception dominates and truth is silenced, freedom, justice and truth can only become a staged spectacle.
Exit from this dark structure is possible. Critical thinking, awareness, media literacy and the habit of questioning are the main line of defense to protect the freedom of the individual. Reality does not always spread as fast and strongly as perception. But the truth has a habit of coming out one day.
The essence of being an individual lies in the courage to reach for the truth. Going beyond perception means asking questions, risking contradictions and making judgments with one's own mind. The individual, who is stuck between reality and perception, can only get out of this jam through critical thinking. Because the one who does not think, only believes. But the thinker first understands and then decides