Question

What impact does a person’s life experiences have on perception of situations, people and things? Give an example of how one of your life experiences impacts your perception. Answer this question in at least two well-written paragraphs. Be sure to cite and reference appropriately.

Answer 1

What one today is out of their experiences of the past and this past experiences could be personal, professional or societal. We come across lots of people and events and each experience helps us redefine and restructure our perceptions, thoughts and behaviours towards those people, situations or things. Our parents, teachers, friends, relatives, our dog, the book we read, our schools and colleges, all have a big impact on how we construct our view on the world. If we have a pleasant experience with a person, situation or thing, we will increase the frequency of meeting that person or thing and participating in that situation, alternatively, if we had a bad experience, we will try to avoid those things, situation or people.

Give an example of how one of your life experiences impacts your perception.

Once I had an opportunity to visit an aged home where lots of old people were living. I stopped by few people and asked them why they were there and haven’t they got any children. One old women told me that she had three children and they all were living in one house. They were respectful and treated her well until she was working. When she got retired, the children got their shares of the property and moved away with their lives. Now, she says that she has got enough money but there is no one to take care of her. Her children, she says that didn’t want to look after her and the reason they told was that she will keep talking and advising which they don’t like besides her health will be deteriorating and they can’t spend time to look after her.

This incident shocked me to the core and I felt very bad for those in the aged homes across the country because our parents took care of us and spend time with us whenever we were not well. This is the time they need us badly and we need to be there. I decided I’ll be there for my parents when they want me badly in their old age.