The Perceptual Process

Advisory. Rated M for mature. Some language.

The process of perception. I am studying physiology this summer. It teaches, among other things, about the process that leads to creation of memory, interpretation and analysis of the environment and its processes. It seems to me that the ability to "categorize" things, and to associate things and people with an expected behavior - profiling - has its foundation in the way our brains work. It is a useful function and helps us to deal with our world. When you see a small car, you immediately associate it with slow acceleration and great gas mileage.
Our brains are great at putting things in "boxes" for us. The trouble is that it doesn't work so great with people. I have read some of the posts on the perceptual process on the 2110 blog, and I see we're all in the same boat. We all have this innate "knee-jerk" response of our brains to bring to mind what it is we're likely dealing with when we see someone who looks a certain way. Or behaves a certain way. I have a more recent example, this kind of thing still happens to me even though I like to think of myself as more "immune" to this - that I give people the "benefit of the doubt" and not come to a premature, incorrect, evaluation.
In 2013, I was still active duty in the military. I worked as a medic in the clinic that was organic (permanent part of) a rifle battalion. Where ever this battalion would go, we would go, doctor and medics and all. In the spring of 2013, our team of medics was joined by another sailor. He's a cool guy and all, motivated, great work ethic and all that. He had joined us from another unit and had already deployed once. He had a tattoo, a large tattoo on his chest, which he wasn't afraid to tell people about, though he didn't go around boasting about it. He also would swear like a sailor, that's shit, stupid shit, he's an asshole, stupid motherfuckers, you get the idea. He fit right in with the group. He's the most conservative true blue Mormon guy I have ever met. He is more active in the church and more passionate about his membership in the LDS church than I ever was. He is married to a lovely lady whom he married in the temple. He has two children and is a very devoted father. He has served a mission, honorably. I would have never guessed simply from his behavior, I guess you could say that he pulled a chameleon on me.
My interpretations were off and I evaluated wrong, I simply evaluated based on the appearances. Of course this is a more complicated and tricky case. Of course as I got to know him better, and we engaged in conversation, the picture became clear and my thinking adjusted accordingly.

This "knee-jerk" response from our brains is always there, though I believe it is constantly being adjusted as we gain more experience. It is the "natural response", but we have to actively and consciously decide that we aren't satisfied with the one-size-fits-all template our brain serves us. I catch myself thinking about an old guy holding up a cardboard sign, "he's probably an alcoholic." I don't know that. I don't know anything.
I know it's better to give the "benefit of the doubt" until I know more.