You get a phone call around lunchtime and, expecting the caller to be your husband, you answer "Hi, honey"-but instead it is your boss calling. The strange thing is that even though it wasn't your husband, for a brief moment you thought it was because you expected it to be! This is an example of ________.
A) perceptual adaptation
B) extrasensory perception
C) perceptual set
D) subliminal perception

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of perceptual set, which is a psychological term that describes the tendency to perceive or notice some aspects of the available sensory data and ignore others, based on expectations, context, emotions, and other factors. In this scenario, expecting the caller to be your husband influenced how you interpreted the incoming call, leading to the initial misperception.

You Get a Phone Call Around Lunchtime And, Expecting the Caller