ch 5 - perceiving objects and scenes

Question 1

perceptual organization

Answer 1

process by which small elements become perceptually grouped into larger objects

Question 2

gestalt psychology

Answer 2

a psychological approach that emphasizes that we often perceive the whole rather than the sum of the parts

Question 3

apparent movement

Answer 3

the illusion of movement that occurs when 2 objects separated in space are presented rapidly, one after another, separated by a brief interval

Question 4

illusory contours

Answer 4

contour that’s perceived even though it’s not present in the physical stimulus

Question 5

how do the illusions of apparent movement and illusory contours illustrate that “the whole is different than the sum of its parts”.

Answer 5

when you look at the whole of something that’s apparently movement, you will think it is actually moving but when you look at the sum of its parts you take into consideration the different steps that make the movement seem real

Question 6

what are the 6 principles of perceptual organization?

Answer 6

principle of good continuation, pragnaz, similarity, proximity, common region, and uniform connectedness

Question 7

principles of perceptual organization

Answer 7

Principles that describe how elements in a scene become grouped together

Question 8

principle of good continuation

Answer 8

points that, when connected, result in straight or smoothly curving lines are seen as belonging together. In addition, lines tend to be seen as following the smoothest path

Question 9

pragnaz/principle of simplicity

Answer 9

every stimulus is seen as simply as possible

ex: olympic rings

Question 10

principle of similarity

Answer 10

similar things appear to be grouped together

Question 11

principle of proximity

Answer 11

things that are near each other appear to be grouped together

Question 12

principle of common region

Answer 12

elements that are within the same region of space appear to be grouped together

Question 13

principle of uniform connectedness

Answer 13

a connected region of the same visual properties, such as lightness, color, texture, or motion, is perceived as a single unit

Question 14

figure-ground segregation

Answer 14

determining what part of the environment is the figure so that it “stands out” from the background

Question 15

figure

Answer 15

when an object is seen as separate from the background

Question 16

ground

Answer 16

the background

Question 17

the properties of figure and ground

Answer 17

The figure is more “thinglike” and more memorable than the ground.
The figure is seen in front of the ground.
The ground is more uniform and extends behind figure.
The contour separating the figure from the ground belongs to the figure (border ownership).

Question 18

Explain how meaningfulness can affect the process of perceptual organization.

Answer 18

Meaningfulness can influence the assignment of an area as figure means that the process of recognition must be occurring either before or at the same time as the figure is being separated from the ground

Question 19

border ownership

Answer 19

when 2 areas share a border. the border is usually perceived as belonging to the figure

Question 20

likelihood principle

Answer 20

we perceive the object that is most likely to have caused the pattern of stimuli we have received

Question 21

unconscious inference

Answer 21

our perceptions are the result of unconscious assumptions, or inferences, that we make about the environment