Categorization both enables perception and systematically destroys perceptual accuracy

Evidence

Categorization is a prerequisite for human thinking for it gives meaning to new experiences. It also facilitates learning and guides people’s adjustments to the social world. By abstracting sensory inputs, categorization allows individuals to quickly interpret, and react to, their environment. The act of categorization, however, deprives people of the ability to perceive some aspects of the world: stimuli can be assimilated to the category only if their peculiarities are overlooked. Here resides the dual nature of categorization: “Categorical thinking is a natural and inevitable tendency of the human mind” and “has property of guiding daily adjustments” (Allport, 1954/ 1979, pp.170–1), but it also impoverishes experiences and leads to a host of perceptual, judgmental, and memory biases. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1154 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Labeling things beautiful destroys their perceived beauty — Freeman Tilden, Interpreting Our Heritage, 506; Categorization simultaneously enables and impoverishes human perception and judgment. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1154; Categorization both enables judgment and necessarily biases it — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1154 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Categorization simultaneously enables and impoverishes human perception and judgment. #expands (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1154