1. © Richard Goldman October 9, 2006
Module 8 Sensing the World Around Us Chapter 3, Pages Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition PSY110 Psychology
© Richard Goldman
October 9, 2006

2. Sensation The receiving of a stimulus by a sense organs Sight Sound
Day
Night
Color
Sound
Frequency (pitch)
Intensity (loudness)
Attitude (balance)
Taste
Sweet
Sour
Salty
Bitter
Touch
Feel (Tactile)
Pain
Temperature

3. Perception Interpretation of a stimulus Screening of a stimulus
Analysis of a stimulus
Integration of a stimulus

4. Stimulus Energy that produces a response in a sense organ Intensity
Sensitivity
Range

5. Importance to Psychologist
Much of human behavior it linked to perception

6. Psychophysics
The study of the relationship between stimuli and psychological experience

7. Absolute Threshold
The minimum level of intensity required for something to be sensed

8. Noise
Background stimuli that interfere with perception of a target stimuli
(moviemakers use auditory background sound to convey ambiance)

9. Difference Threshold
Minimum difference in level of intensity to notice a change
Called: Just Noticeable Difference

10. Weber’s Law (vay-ber)
Expressed as a ratio – it takes the same relative level difference to perceive a difference at a low intensity as it would at high intensity

11. Adaptation
Decrease in the perceived intensity of stimuli over time