Perception Management
There is no conceivable way of coping with the stimuli that impinge upon the senses, and with the volume and complexity of the data to analyze, without simplifying preconceptions about what to expect, what is relevant, and what is related to what. Because of limits in capacity to cope directly with the complexity of the world, the mind constructs simplified mental models of reality. It is possible to behave rationally within the confines of such a mental model of a "bounded" or limited rationality but it is not always well adapted to the requirements of the real world. Perception is not simply determined by stimulus patterns but is the result of a dynamic search for the best interpretation of available data, a hypothesis based on the sensory data. The Necker Cube, a geometrical pattern, contains no clue as to which of two alternative hypotheses of perception is correct, there is no answer. The perceptual system entertains first one, then the other hypothesis and never comes to a conclusion. (L.A. Necker noticed during his examination of crystals in 19th century that the spatial appearance of three-dimensional objects can be interpreted differently.)
Military glossaries define Perception Management as actions to convey and deny selected information and indicators to targets resulting in behaviors and actions favorable to the originator?s objectives. This is mainly achieved by combining truth projection, operations security, cover and deception, and psychological operations in various ways. Commercial Perception Management agencies offer their services in crafting a strategy that includes framing a coherent, focused population of semiotics and messages to be distributed into selected information environments. Their requirements listed for Perception Management campaigns in the targets information environments include real-time monitoring, perception mapping, tracking of expectations, quantification of different infospheres, message pre-testing, metrics on diffusion through target and collateral populations (influence, contagion, propagation, resistance, improvement). The social engineering analysis and automatization of society is derived from military operations research, the methodology of tactics and logistics; the use of extensive data-processing is the silent weapon in an undeclared war.