What psychological effect is illustrated when a person expects a certain outcome, influencing their perception?

The correct choice, which identifies the psychological effect where a person’s expectations influence their perception, is the concept of perceptual set. This term refers to a mental predisposition to perceive something in a certain way, shaped by expectations, previous experiences, and context. When individuals have a specific expectation, they are more likely to interpret sensory information in a manner that confirms their anticipated outcome. For example, if someone believes that a particular flavor is present in a dish, they may be more likely to detect that flavor even if it is subtle or not present at all.

Attentional bias, while related to how personal expectations can influence focus on certain stimuli, pertains more specifically to the tendency to pay attention to particular types of stimuli over others based on emotional relevance rather than perceptual outcome.

Response bias involves the tendency of participants to respond in a certain way based on external factors, such as social expectations or the perceived norms of answering, rather than their own true feelings or perceptions.

Confirmation bias pertains to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, rather than affecting perception directly.

Understanding perceptual set highlights how expectations can significantly shape one’s sensory experience, which is fundamental to understanding various psychological phenomena.