But the same process can spell disaster. Suppose you had a difficult relationship and decided on the basis of that experience that all men or all women are the same - not to be trusted. Your generalization could stop you seeking out men and women who are exceptions to your rule. So, through deleting, distorting and generalizing we can create a friendly or a hostile world. And the more we practise, the better we will get at making the world fit our filters.
People have biases on how they shape their perceptions.
Some people will do more deleting, while others tend to distort more and yet other will be more given to generalization. People who delete a great deal make big leaps in their thinking and may be difficult to follow. They are also likely to have good powers of concentration, being able to delete distraction and they may be good at tolerating physical discomfort. People who distort their experience constantly surprise you with their interpretations of your actions and words. They may see cause and effect links where you would never suspect them.