Perception

Perceptual Organization Perceptual Constancies Depth and Dimension Perceptual Set The World of Illusions

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Which center circle is larger?

Here are the same circles again.

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

 Gestalt Movement in experimental psychology which began prior to WWI.  We perceive objects as well-organized patterns rather than separate components.  The whole is greater than the sum of it s parts.  Based on the concept of grouping .

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

W.E. Hill, 1915

German postcard, 1880

We impose visual organization on stimuli

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Illusory Contours

The Kanisza triangle as figure-ground illusory contours

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Three Main Principles:

Grouping (proximity, similarity, continuity, closure) Goodness of figures Figure/ground relationships

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Grouping: Law of Proximity

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Grouping: Law of Similarity

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Grouping: Law of Similarity: Shape, Scale, Color

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Law of Good Continuation, or Continuity Objects arranged in either a straight line or a smooth curve tend to be seen as a unit.

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Law of Closure

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Law of Common Fate

The Law of Common Fate

Finally, elements of visual perception that move together are seen as forming a common object. This law is best imagined in terms of those animals you see on nature shows that seem to perfectly blend into their background, until they move. Then suddenly they appear visible. As an example though ...

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Common Fate Example - 1

Chapter 7 - Perception

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Common Fate Example - 2

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Common Fate Example - 3

Chapter 7 - Perception

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Common Fate Example - 4

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Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Goodness of Figure, or the Law of Pragnanz

(Pragnanz is German for Pregnant, but in the sense of pregnant with meaning, not with child!)

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Figure/Ground relationships Figure seen as the foreground Ground seen as the background Contours belong to the figure

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Reversible Figure/Ground relationship

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Reversible Figure/Ground relationship

Can be affected by the principle of smallness: Smaller areas tend to be seen as figures against a larger background.

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Reversible Figure/Ground Relationship: Tessellation interlocking figure/ground

M.C. Escher

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

 Gestalt laws of Grouping organize the visual scene into units  The Law of Pragnanz, or Goodness of Figure creates the simplest most meaningful pattern  Figure/Ground relationships define important parts of the scene

Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception

Problems with Gestalt theory: It is a phenomenological approach Some of the terms are vague (e.g. what is the simplest organization?)

Perceptual Organization
Reversible Figures
Drawings that one can perceive in different ways by reversing figure and ground.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Organization
Gestalt Laws of Grouping
 Proximity
Seeing 3 pair of lines in A

 Similarity
Seeing columns of orange and red dots in B

 Continuity
Seeing lines that connect 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 in C

 Closure
Seeing a horse in D

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Organization
Identifying Objects
 Geons (geometric

icons) are simple 3D component shapes.  A limited number are stored in memory.  Geons are combined to identify essential contours of objects.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Constancies
 Size Constancy
The tendency to view an object as constant in size despite changes in the size of the retinal image.

 Shape Constancy
The tendency to see an object as keeping its form despite changes in orientation.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Constancies
The Ames Room
 A specially-built room

that makes people seem to change size as they move around in it  The room is not a rectangle, as viewers assume it is.  A single peephole prevents using binocular depth cues.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Constancies
Shape Constancy

 Even though these images cast shadows of

different shapes, they still are seen as round.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Depth and Dimension

 Depth Perception
The use of visual cues to estimate depth and distance.

 Convergence
A binocular cue involving the turning inward of the eyes as an object gets closer.

 Binocular Disparity
A binocular cue whereby the closer an object is, the more different the image is in each retina.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Depth and Dimension

Monocular Depth Cues
Distance cues that enable the perception of depth with one eye.
Relative Image Size Linear Perspective Interposition Atmospheric Perspective Relative Elevation Familiarity

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Depth Perception
In order for us to figure out where an objects is, we need some way of judging depth in our visual environment. In turns out that we use a fairly large range of cues to help in our perception of depth, and the fall under two general classes. Some depth information can only be obtained when both eyes are viewing the world these types of information are termed binocular cues to depth. In contrast, monocular cues can be obtained using only one eye.
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Binocular Cues - Convergence

Because the two eyes converge on an object when we are viewing it, the brain can use the angle of convergence as a cue to how far away that object is. For example:
The larger the angle, the nearer the object

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Binocular Cues - Retinal Disparity

Whenever we are not focusing on an object, the image of that object falls on different points of the two retinas. The amount of disparity (difference) between the two retinal images can be used as a cue for distance. Try holding up two fingers one in front of the other. Focus on the front one (you should now see two images of the back one). Now move the back one away from, then back towards you, while still focusing on the front one. What happens to the two images you see as the back finger moves?

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Monocular Cues Interposition

When one object partially occludes our view of a second object, we assume that the first object is closer to us that the second. For example:

Vs.

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Monocular Cues - Perspective

Things appear to get smaller as they recede into the distance even though we know they are not actually getting smaller. Given this, if the general size of some object in the scene is known, the size of the retinal image cast by that object can be used to judge its distance from us. This can sometimes lead to neat illusions such as the one to the right.
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Monocular Cues- Shading

We live in a world where our major light sources tend to come from above. As a result, shading has come to be another source of depth information such that objects that are shaded lighter on the top are seen as sticking out towards us.

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Depth and Dimension

 Devised by Eleanor Gibson

The Visual Cliff

and Richard Walk to test depth perception in infants and animals.  Provides visual illusion of a cliff.  Caregiver stands across the gap.  Babies are not afraid until about the age they can crawl.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Set

 What is seen in the center figures depends on the

order in which one looks at the figures:

If scanned from the left, a man s face is seen. If scanned from the right, a woman s figure is seen.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Perceptual Set
Context Effects
 The same physical

stimulus can be interpreted differently depending on perceptual set, e.g., context effects.  When is the middle character the letter B and when is it the number 13?

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

The World of Illusions

The Mller-Lyer Illusion
Illusion in which the perceived length of a line is altered by the position of other lines that enclose it

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

The World of Illusions

The Ponzo Illusion
Illusion in which the perceived line length is affected by linear perspective cues.  Side lines seem to

converge  Top line seems farther away

But the retinal images of the red lines are equal.

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Extrasensory Perception

The Case for ESP The Case against ESP The Continuing Controversy

The Case for ESP

 Extrasensory Perception (ESP)
The ability to perceive something without ordinary sensory information. This has not been scientifically demonstrated.

 Parapsychologists distinguish between three

types of ESP:
Telepathy Mind-to-mind communication Clairvoyance Perception of remote events Precognition Ability to see future events

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

 Of course, there is also psychokinesis.  And Levitation  Paranormal healing  Luminiscent Phenomena (aura)  OBE- or sometimes OOBE (An out-of-body

experience )

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Are they real?

 Scientist usually conclude that there is no

strong scientific support for these type of phenomena.  Perhaps this is because they defy the establishment in psychology.  Perhaps it is because it is simply a lie  Anyway, there is an amazing instrument inside our heads that is fascinating enough to start investigating

The Case against ESP

ESP Cards

 J. B. Rhine conducted many experiments on ESP

using stimuli such as these.  Rhine believed that his evidence supported the existence of ESP, but his findings were flawed..
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin 2004 Prentice Hall

Online tests
 http://www.psychicscience.org/esp3.aspx

http://www.psychic-experiences.com/psychic-tests/zenercards.php http://www.leotarot.com/test-extrasensorial-percepcionadivinacion-intuicion-gratis.html

Hallucinations, delusions and illusions

Hallucination: is a perception in the absence of a stimulus.
 Usually present in severe

mental disorder but also in delerium tremens, sleep deprivation and drug use or abuse.

Delusions:
        

an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary

aliens control my body the end of the world is near you are cheating on me, the bed is still warm I am responsible for last weeks earthquake Barak Obama has a crush on me I am Jesus, do you want to be the 13th apostle? I have parasites in my eyes, I can see them I am the king of England The government is conspiring to kill me

Illusions:is

the mis-perception or misinterpretation of real external stimuli

 Example:  You recognize a message hidden in a

song.

 Este tipo de espejismo surge porque las capas de aire junto a

la superficie de la Tierra se han vuelto calientes y, por lo tanto, menos densas que las capas ms altas. Los rayos de luz junto al suelo se curvan bruscamente hacia arriba y el agua, que parece mostrar los reflejos de objetos distantes, es la imagen del cielo.

Pareidolia

Pareidolia

Pareidolia

 http://facesinplaces.blogspot.com/