8C - Visual Perception

Question 1

what factors influence visual perception

Answer 1

the biopsychosocial model

Question 2

what are biological factors

Answer 2

internal genetic and/or physiologically based factors

Question 3

how is the eye involved in visual perception

Answer 3

the retina contains photoreceptors which are the sensory receptors of the eye. they receive light and convert it into sensory info into a form that can be sent to the brain.

Question 4

what are the 2 types of photoreceptors

Answer 4

rods and cones

Question 5

what are rods

Answer 5

photoreceptors that allow someone to see in low levels of light (black and white)

it allows peripheral vision

Question 6

what are cones

Answer 6

photoreceptors that allow someone to see colour and fine details in well-lit conditions (a rainbow)

Question 7

name 2 biological abnormalities

Answer 7

color blindness and short-sightedness

Question 8

what is colour blindness

Answer 8

when people struggle to differentiate between certain colours as a result of defective photoreceptors. (usually a genetic cause)

3 types of colour blindness: red-green, blue-yellow, and complete colour blindness (monochromacy)

Question 9

what is short sightedness

Answer 9

only causes far away objects to appear blurry (myopia) due to a refractory error. this means the focal point of one or both eyes is located in front of, instead of on, the retina

can be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses

Question 10

what are depth cues

Answer 10

depth cues are a source of info which help perceive how far away objects are, using internal and external cues (allows to see things in 3D)

Question 11

binocular vs monocular depth cues

Answer 11

binocular - requires the use of both eyes to determine the depth of objects that are close

monocular - requires the use of one eye, as most depth cues are monocular

Question 12

types of monocular depth cues

Answer 12

accomodation, motion parallax and pictoral depth cues

Question 13

what is accomodation

Answer 13

involves our lens bulging and flattening according to how far away an object is

nearby objects - lens bulges
distant objects - lens flattens

Question 14

what is motion parallax

Answer 14

uses our perception of movement to tell how far away things are

objects closer - appear faster
objects further - appear still

Question 15

what are pictoral depth cues

Answer 15

often manipulated by artists when painting or drawing

these include:
- relative size
- height in visual field
- linear perspective
- interposition
- texture gradient

Question 16

what is relative size

Answer 16

the image larger on the retina is perceived as being closer, and the image that is smaller on the retina is perceived as being further away

Question 17

what is height in visual field

Answer 17

the closer objects are to the horizon line, the further away they appear

Question 18

what is linear perspective

Answer 18

the convergence of parallel lines: the closer the lines converge, the more distant the path

Question 19

what is interposition

Answer 19

when objects overlap, we perceive the covered object as being further away than the one obscuring it.

Question 20

what is texture gradient

Answer 20

the closer we are, the more detail of texture we can see

Question 21

types of binocular depth cues

Answer 21

retinal disparity, convergence

Question 22

what is retinal disparity

Answer 22

the amount of differences between each of the images received by the brain from each retina, indicates the distance of the object

the more differences, the closer the object

Question 23

what is convergence

Answer 23

the level of tension experienced in the muscles responsible for turning the eyes, thus giving us info about the distance of the object.

the more tension, the closer the object

Question 24

what are psychological factors

Answer 24

internal factors pertaining to one’s mental processes (cognition, attitude, beliefs and thoughts)

Question 25

what are the gestalt principles

Answer 25

the interpretation and organisation of sensations into perceptions, by grouping individual parts of visual stimuli into complete forms, usually in the simplest possible ways.

Question 26

what is the proximity principle

Answer 26

the tendency to perceive parts of a stimulus which are positioned close together as belonging together. (eg. letters > words)

Question 27

what is the similarity principle

Answer 27

the tendency to perceive stimuli with similar features as belonging together in a group (eg. same uniform > same school)

Question 28

what is the figure ground principle

Answer 28

separating our focus to the figure which stands out from the surroundings (eg. a stop sign)

Question 29

what is the closure principle

Answer 29

when viewing an incomplete image, our brains mentally “close up” and ignore the gaps in a stimulus to perceive it as whole. (eg. WWF logo)

Question 30

what are visual constancies

Answer 30

refers to our ability to perceive visual objects as staying the same, even though they may appear to change.

Question 31

what is shape constancy

Answer 31

helps us realise that when perceiving an object from a different angle, the shape hasn’t changed. (eg. viewing a tree at diff heights)

Question 32

what is size constancy

Answer 32

allows us to perceive objects as remaining their realistic size when further away, rather than shrinking. (eg. trees looking smaller further away than when they were up close)

Question 33

what is brightness constancy

Answer 33

our ability to perceive objects as having the same level of brightness even in different levels of lighting. (eg. knowing that leaves are the same colour even at night, and they are not ‘darker’)

Question 34

what is perceptual set

Answer 34

the readiness to perceive stimuli in line with our expectations, ignoring other stimuli or other possible interpretations

Question 35

what are social factors

Answer 35

external factors relating to an individual’s interactions with others and their external environment, including their relationship and community involvement.

Question 36

what are cultural norms

Answer 36

a standard, value or rule that outlines an appropriate behaviour or experience within a culture. (language, food, religion, clothing , social dynamics.)