Ch8

Question 1

Perception

Answer 1

It’s the attention we give to the objects around us, and how we process and interpret the sensory information to make sense of the world around us. This can be influenced by Biological, Psychological and Social factors.

Question 2

Sensation

Answer 2

The process by which our sensory receptors and sense organs detect and respond to sensory information that stimulates them.

Question 3

Attention

Answer 3

The process of focusing on specific stimuli and senses, while ignoring others.

Question 4

Sustained attention

Answer 4

Focused attention on one task for a continuous period of time, without being distracted.

Question 5

Divided attention

Answer 5

The ability to distribute our attention to two or more activities at the same time.

Question 6

Selective attention

Answer 6

Choosing and attending to a specific stimulus and blocking out others around you.

Question 7

Five factors that influence attention

Answer 7

Movement
Motives
Physiological state
Past experiences
Intensity

Question 8

Top-down processing

Answer 8

The perceptual process starts ‘at the top’ with higher level processing than moving down through the details of the whole.

Question 9

Bottom-up processing

Answer 9

The perceptual process starts ‘at the bottom’ with raw sensory information that is sent ‘up’ to the brain for higher level mental ‘processing’. Relies entirely on sensory data.

Question 10

Biological process of perception?

Answer 10

Stimulus
Reception (receptors detect and respond)
Transduction (converted in the form of neural impulses)
Transmission (sent to brain)
Interpretation (of the stimulus)

Question 11

Binocular depth cues

Answer 11

Convergence
Retinal disparity

Question 12

Monocular depth cues

Answer 12

Accommodation
Linear perspective
Interposition
Texture gradient
Relative size
Height in the visual field

Question 13

Convergence

Answer 13

How the eyes tense up to focus on an object that is close.

Question 14

Retinal disparity

Answer 14

The difference between the location in images seen by each of our retinas.

Question 15

Accomodation

Answer 15

The automatic adjustment of the lens in the retina to accommodate the size of an object to fit it in full.

Question 16

Linear perspective

Answer 16

The apparent convergence of parallel lines as they join together in the distance.

Question 17

Interposition

Answer 17

The covering of one object over another, and how that the covered object is seen to be further away (and vice versa).

Question 18

Texture gradient

Answer 18

The gradual reduction of detail that occurs when objects become further away, things that are clearer are perceived as closer (and vice versa).

Question 19

Relative size

Answer 19

The tendency to perceive the larger object as closer, and the smaller object as further away.

Question 20

Height in the visual field

Answer 20

The location of objects on the horizon changing how we perceive them as close or further away, something higher in the horizon will be perceived as further away (and vice versa).

Question 21

What are the four Gestalt principles?

Answer 21

Figure ground
Closure
Similarity
Proximity

Question 22

Figure ground

Answer 22

How we organise visual information by diving things into a figure (the thing that stands out) and a ground (the background around the figure)

Question 23

Closure

Answer 23

The tendency to close up and fill in gaps in images to complete them and make them whole. (Think, the WWF Panda Logo!)

Question 24

Similarity

Answer 24

The tendency to group things with similar features as belonging together. (Think, school uniforms!)

Question 25

Proximity

Answer 25

The tendency to perceive things that are closer together as part of a group.

Question 26

Perceptual set

Answer 26

The temporary readiness to perceive something as what we expect it to be. That is, if you’re told that an image will be a certain way, you will see it in that certain way, until told otherwise.

Question 27

Context

Answer 27

The setting/environment in which you perceive and interpret stimuli. That is, how different situations will make you interpret a stimuli differently.

Question 28

Motivation

Answer 28

The processes that active motivated/goal-directed behaviour. This is influenced psychologically (interests, ambitions), biologically (hunger, thirst), or socially (culture, money).

Question 29

Past experiences

Answer 29

The personal experiences and information we have gathered in the past (whether intentionally or unintentionally) that effect how we perceive things. That is, people with a more violent background are more likely to see violence in everyday life.

Question 30

Memory

Answer 30

The process of storing and retrieving the information for when it is needed.

Question 31

Culture

Answer 31

The way of life that sets one culture apart from another, and how that affects how you perceive things.