Chapter 6: Perception

Perception The organization and interpretation of our sensations. It is how we create meaning for what we see, touch, hear, feel and smell. The organization and interpretation of our sensations. It is how we create meaning for what we see, touch, hear, feel and smell.

Perception Selective Attention: the idea that we are only aware of a small percentage of what we experience. Selective Attention: the idea that we are only aware of a small percentage of what we experience.

Selective Attention The most famous example to illustrate selective attention is known as the “cocktail party effect.” The most famous example to illustrate selective attention is known as the “cocktail party effect.”

Red Green Blue Yellow Orange Red Yellow Black BlueRedOrangeGreenBlueGreenYellow Blue Yellow Orange Yellow Red Black Green Red The Stroop Effect

Selective Attention Theory: the interference occurs because naming colors requires more attention than reading words.

Selective Attention Change Blindness (Person Swapping)* Change Blindness (Person Swapping)* Change Blindness Change Blindness Inattention Blindness* Inattention Blindness* Inattention Blindness Inattention Blindness

Perception Visual Capture: refers to the tendency for vision to dominate the other senses. Visual Capture: refers to the tendency for vision to dominate the other senses. Does this picture help you remember the example from your book?

Perceptual Organization Gestalt: an organized whole. Gestalt: an organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasize humans’ tendencies to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes. Gestalt psychologists emphasize humans’ tendencies to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes. Things are not seen as sum of parts but immediately as wholes. Things are not seen as sum of parts but immediately as wholes.

Gestalt Principle: Mind Always Wants to Make Stimuli Meaningful. The fact that you can read this sentence… The fact that you can read this sentence… “it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprometnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae” …illustrates gestalt principles are at work to make things a meaningful whole.

Gestalt Principle: Mind Always Wants to Make Stimuli Meaningful.*

Gestalt Psychology Grouping: the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups Grouping: the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups Gestault/Grouping Principles: Gestault/Grouping Principles: Proximity Proximity Similarity Similarity Continuity Continuity Closure Closure Connectedness Connectedness

Proximity: tendency to group nearby figures together

Similarity: tendency to group figures that are similar

Continuity: tendency to perceive continuous patterns

Closure: tendency to fill in the gaps in visual information.

Connectedness: spots, lines and areas are seen as a unit when connected

Perceptual Organization Figure-Ground Relationship: tendency to organize information into objects (figure) that stand out from their background(ground) Figure-Ground Relationship: tendency to organize information into objects (figure) that stand out from their background(ground)

Figure Ground Illusion

The Big Ten collegiate conference has eleven schools but they didn’t want to change their name. However, they used their logo to hide the numerical “11” in the name.

One of my favorite chocolates…yummy!! But trust me I never noticed the brilliant logo while enjoying my bar. You must be thinking what is there to find out as it clearly shows the Swiss Alps? Let me explain…Toblerone originated in Bern, Switzerland - A city whose name is rumored to mean, “City of bears.” When you look at it again you will find a bear in the logo. Toblerone Chocolate

Depth Perception Depth Perception: the ability to see objects in three dimensions. Allows us to gauge distance. Depth Perception: the ability to see objects in three dimensions. Allows us to gauge distance. Visual Cliff Experiment: illustrated that crawling infants and newborns perceive depth. Visual Cliff Experiment: illustrated that crawling infants and newborns perceive depth. Visual Cliff Experiment Visual Cliff Experiment

Types of Depth Perception Binocular Cues: depth cues that rely on the use of two eyes. Binocular Cues: depth cues that rely on the use of two eyes. Examples of Binocular Cues: Examples of Binocular Cues: Retinal Disparity: idea that images of an object from the two eyes differ. The closer the object, the larger the difference (disparity.) Retinal Disparity: idea that images of an object from the two eyes differ. The closer the object, the larger the difference (disparity.) Convergence: extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object that brain keeps track of to measure distance. Convergence: extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object that brain keeps track of to measure distance.

Retinal Disparity and the Sausage Illusion

Types of Depth Perception Monocular Cues: distance cues that are available to either eye alone. Often used in art. Monocular Cues: distance cues that are available to either eye alone. Often used in art. Examples of Monocular Cues Examples of Monocular Cues Relative size: smaller image is more distant Relative size: smaller image is more distant Interposition: closer object blocks distant object Interposition: closer object blocks distant object Relative Clarity: hazy object seen as more distant Relative Clarity: hazy object seen as more distant Texture: coarse=close; fine=distant Texture: coarse=close; fine=distant

James J. GIBSON James J. GIBSON Among the first to discover the importance of texture gradient for perceiving depth. Most surfaces have a texture but it becomes less detailed as the surface recedes into the background. Among the first to discover the importance of texture gradient for perceiving depth. Most surfaces have a texture but it becomes less detailed as the surface recedes into the background. key name

Types of Depth Perception Examples of Monocular Cues Continued: Examples of Monocular Cues Continued: Relative Height: higher objects seen as more distant Relative Height: higher objects seen as more distant Relative Motion: closer objects seem to move faster Relative Motion: closer objects seem to move faster Linear Perspective: parallel lines converge with distance Linear Perspective: parallel lines converge with distance Relative Brightness: closer objects appear brighter Relative Brightness: closer objects appear brighter Light and Shadow: nearby objects reflect more light to our eyes. Light and Shadow: nearby objects reflect more light to our eyes.

Monocular Cue?

Who is closer: Snoopy or Woodstock? Woodstock How do you know? Woodstock blocks part of Snoopy. In other words, INTERPOSITION.

Monocular Cue?

More detail Less detail Closer Further away Monocular Cue?

Highlights and shadows can provide information about an object's dimensions and depth. Because our visual system assumes the light comes from above, a totally different perception is obtained if the image is viewed upside down. Monocular Cue?

Examples of Depth Perception Julian Beever Chalk Drawings Julian Beever Chalk Drawings Julian Beever Chalk Drawings Julian Beever Chalk Drawings

Real Quick: Phi Phenomenon Motion Perception: Illusion of Movement with Blinking Lights Motion Perception: Illusion of Movement with Blinking Lights

Perceptual Constancy Perceptual Constancy: perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in retinal image Perceptual Constancy: perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in retinal image shape shape size size

Interplay Between Perceived Size and Distance Using monocular cues for distance can often cause us to perceive incorrect information. Using monocular cues for distance can often cause us to perceive incorrect information.

Muller-Lyer Illusion Involves Misperception of Line Segments

Muller-Lyer Illusion is Culturally Specific to Western Architecture

Poggendorf's Optical Illusion* The single line if continued joins with the _______ line. One explanation for this illusion is that the lower right end of the line appears nearer than the upper left; that is, the line is seen as receding in space.

Impossible Object

Sensory Deprivation and Perception Kittens raised without exposure to horizontal lines later had difficulty perceiving horizontal bars. Remember that sensory deprivation affects infants worse than older animals and humans.

Perceptual Adaptation Perceptual Adaptation Perceptual Adaptation (vision) ability to adjust to an artificially displaced visual field (vision) ability to adjust to an artificially displaced visual field prism glasses prism glasses

Perceptual Set – the power of expectancy Perceptual Set Perceptual Set A situation where a person is predisposed (more likely) to perceive one thing over another.

Bill Clinton and ?

Power of Expectancy/Set

Perceptual Set

Usually See Saxophone Player Now Instead of…

Woman

Perceptual Set* Provide punctuation that will make the words below meaningful: TIME FLIES I CANT THEYRE TOO FAST

Is there Extrasensory Perception? Extrasensory Perception: claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input. Extrasensory Perception: claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input. Telepathy Telepathy Clairvoyance Clairvoyance Precognition Precognition Parapsychology: study of paranormal phenomenon, including ESP and psychokinesis. Parapsychology: study of paranormal phenomenon, including ESP and psychokinesis.