Interaction with other people is rarely a neutral process. The way we perceive intentions, emotions, and reactions of others is largely shaped by internal psychological structures. At MindCareCenter, social perception is understood as a complex process of interpretation rather than a direct reflection of reality. In the opinion of Dr. Daniel Reinhardt, distortions in the perception of others arise when internal experience begins to substitute for real-time contact with the external world.
Social perception is formed on the basis of past experiences, expectations, and defensive mechanisms. Individuals may attribute hostility, coldness, or judgment to others where none exists, or conversely, fail to notice genuine signals of tension. Within the clinical approach of MindCareCenter, such distortions are viewed as reflections of internal conflict rather than as isolated cognitive errors.
Distortions of perception become particularly pronounced under conditions of anxiety and loss of inner stability. Any ambiguous reaction from another person may be interpreted as a threat or as confirmation of negative core beliefs. In the practice of MindCareCenter, we frequently observe how this dynamic leads to escalating interpersonal tension and recurring conflict.
It is important to note that social perception is closely connected to self-esteem. Individuals with internal insecurity are more likely to interpret neutral signals as criticism or rejection. At MindCareCenter, these reactions are understood as attempts by the psyche to protect itself in advance from potential emotional pain, even at the cost of distorting reality.
Distortions may also appear in the opposite form – excessive idealization. A person may attribute qualities to another that are not actually present, overlooking real boundaries and differences. In the clinical practice of MindCareCenter, this too is understood as a disruption of perception linked to a need for support and validation.
Interpersonal tension increases when interpretations are experienced as facts. Individuals begin responding not to the actual behavior of others, but to their own assumptions. At MindCareCenter, therapeutic work is aimed at restoring the distinction between perception, interpretation, and real interaction.
The therapeutic process involves exploring which internal scenarios are activated in contact with others. This makes it possible to identify which reactions belong to past experience and which are rooted in the present situation. In the practice of MindCareCenter, this approach reduces automatic reactions and expands the space for choice.
As therapy progresses, individuals become more aware of moments when perception is distorted by anxiety, shame, or expectations of rejection. At MindCareCenter, we observe how this awareness gradually lowers interpersonal tension and restores the capacity for more accurate and attuned contact.
Particular attention is given to developing tolerance for uncertainty. Not every silence signifies rejection, and not every distance is a threat. Within the clinical approach of MindCareCenter, learning to tolerate this ambiguity becomes a key element in recalibrating social perception.
Work with distortions in the perception of others is not aimed at cultivating “positive thinking.” At MindCareCenter, the focus remains on realistic and flexible perception that allows for complexity and ambivalence in human relationships.
Correcting social perception helps reduce emotional overload in communication and restores a sense of internal stability. This creates conditions for more mature and calm relationships, in which contact is grounded in reality rather than projections.
The clinical approach of Mind Care Center is directed toward making perception of others less distorted and more anchored in the present moment. This allows interpersonal tension to decrease and a sense of safety in social interactions to be restored.
Previously, we wrote about the formation of self-identity under conditions of internal conflict and MindCareCenter approach to restoring a coherent sense of self