PERCEPTION LAWS BLOG
BY: Hayley Harvey and Lydia Maliackel
Rules of perceptual organization- These are rules involving how we
organize different perceptions in our world to help us construct reality.
1. Closure- We fill in gaps to create a complete, whole
object.
Ex.- We see this picture as a rabbit with multiple different size lines that are blocking the complete picture instead of perceiving it as multiple random black lines.
2. Continuity- We perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones.
Ex.- In this picture, our brains perceive that top branch is continuing on while
the dark set of dots with branching off but it is still seen as a smooth flow
so it is not broken up into multiple parts.
3. Similarity- Our brains group together figures that are similar to each other instead of
different groups.
Ex.- Instead of viewing this picture as individual lines with a O in each line,
our brains see it as a diagonal line of Os surrounded by Xs.
http://psych-schools-of thought.wikispaces.com/file/view/law_of_similarity.png/127655503/law_of_similarity.png
4. Proximity- We group nearby figures together.
4. Proximity- We group nearby figures together.
Ex.- If there are sixteen squares, our brain will perceive the squares in four groups of four instead of sixteen separate squares.
5. Figure-ground perception- This is the organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings (a background).
5. Figure-ground perception- This is the organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings (a background).
Ex.- In this picture, our brains see the white background but the black figures on
the background form a woman’s face on the white background.
Binocular
cues- These are cues that depend on the use of two eyes. They are a type of
depth cue.
1. Convergence-
This is the extent to which our eyes converge inward when looking at an object.
The greater the inward strain, the closer the object.
Ex.- Our eyes are set at a small distance apart so when an object is closer to our
faces our eyes have to converge inward to see an object. If our eyes are
parallel to see an object, we perceive it as an object that is farther away.
Monocular cues-
These are the cues that are available to either eye alone. They are another
type of depth cue.
1. Relative size- This means that if two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts a smaller retinal image as farther away.
1. Relative size- This means that if two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts a smaller retinal image as farther away.
Ex.- These two diet cokes are the
same size. However, because the one on the left looks smaller, we perceive it
as farther away.
2. Relative clarity- Light from
distant objects passes through more atmosphere. Due to this, we perceive hazy
objects as farther away than sharp, clear objects.
Ex.- In the picture below, the
more blurry flowers are perceived as farther away.
Motion perception-
Our brains perceive objects getting smaller as retreating and objects getting
bigger as approaching. For example, when driving in a car, seeing a traffic
light get bigger and bigger makes us perceive that the traffic light is
approaching us or that we are approaching it.
1. Stroboscopic movement- We
perceive continuous movement when watching a rapid series of slightly varying
images. For example, when looking at flipbooks with drawings that only have
slight changes in each, we see one continuous motion.
2. Phi phenomenon- We see a single
light moving back and forth between two lights that are blinking on and off.
For example, when a video is loading and the loading wheel pops up, we perceive
only one light moving through the wheel instead of different lights turning on
at different times.
Perceptual
constancy- This is when we perceive objects as unchanging even though
illumination and retinal images are changing.
1. Size constancy- We perceive objects as the same size even if our distance away from them is changing.
1. Size constancy- We perceive objects as the same size even if our distance away from them is changing.
Ex.- To our retinas, this apple looks bigger than the man's head. However, because of size constancy, we perceive/know that the apple is no bigger than maybe one-fourth of the man's face.
2. Shape constancy-We perceive the
form of familiar objects as constant even while our retinal images of them
change. For example, when looking at a water-bottle from a bird’s-eye view, the
bottle looks like a circle. Nonetheless, we perceive the bottle to be a
cylinder because our brain keeps its shape constant.
3. Brightness constancy- We
perceive an object as having a constant lightness even when its illumination
varies.
Ex.- These
two girls are colored exactly the same, but because of brightness constancy we
think the skin tone of the girl on the right is darker, etc.
