Question

What describes our tendency to judge various stimuli relative to those we have previously experienced?

Answer 1

Answer:

Adaptation Level Phenomenon

Explanation:

Adaptation Level Phenomenon as defined by David G Myers in his book "The Pursuit of Happiness", describes the human tendency to judge various stimuli and situations relative to those we have previously experienced. A sensory example of the adaptation-level phenomenon would be wearing a tee shirt outside when the temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit in April, but wearing a coat when the same temperature occurs in September. Because in the spring we are used to colder weather, our "neutral" level for temperature, (the point at which the temperature is neither hot nor cold), is lower than it is in the fall, when we are used to a warmer climate. Our sensations, our perceptions, are all relative.