In the context of the perceptual process as described in theories of emotion, what is considered the last step?

• A. Reception of sensory input
• B. Sensory transduction
• C. Recognition and interpretation of the stimulus
• D. Attention to the stimulus

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the perceptual process involves several sequential steps starting from the initial detection of stimuli to the final understanding of what the stimulus means.
2. Identify the first step as the reception of sensory input, where sensory organs detect external stimuli from the environment.
3. Recognize that sensory transduction follows, which is the conversion of sensory input into neural signals that the brain can process.
4. Note that attention to the stimulus is the process of focusing cognitive resources on certain sensory information, which helps in further processing.
5. Finally, the last step is the recognition and interpretation of the stimulus, where the brain makes sense of the sensory information by assigning meaning based on past experiences and context.