Perception is defined as how individuals select, organize, and interpret stimuli from their environment. There are several key elements of perception, including sensation, absolute threshold, and differential threshold. Sensation is the immediate response of sensory organs to stimuli, while absolute threshold is the lowest level at which a stimulus can be detected. Differential threshold refers to the minimum difference between two stimuli that can be detected. Perception results from both physical stimuli and an individual's own inputs, and involves processes like selection, organization, and interpretation.