How is perception defined?

Perception is fundamentally centered on how individuals interpret and make sense of their environment. The definition that states it is the interpretation of surroundings based on mental impressions captures this essence perfectly. Perception involves processing sensory information and translating it into meaningful insights that inform our understanding and reactions to the world around us. It emphasizes the subjective nature of our experiences; two individuals can perceive the same situation differently due to their unique mental frameworks, past experiences, and cognitive biases.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects that do not accurately encapsulate the core idea of perception. Predicting future events pertains more to forecasting and anticipation, while a measurable response to stimuli deals with behaviorism and objective measurement rather than interpretation. Collective societal views refer to the social constructs and norms prevalent within a community, which is broader than individual perception. Thus, the definition that highlights interpretation based on mental impressions closely aligns with the psychological concept of how perception operates in human cognition.