Gibson's Theory

Question 1

What does Gibson state about perception?

Answer 1

That it is not the result of learning or guesswork but it is a natural and automatic process

Question 2

What elements does Gibson place emphasis on in his theory?

Answer 2

Optic flow patterns
Texture gradients
Affordances

Question 3

What is the visual information we receive from the environment referred to as?

Answer 3

The optical array

Question 4

What is the optical array?

Answer 4

The visual information we revived from the environment

Question 5

What are optic flow patterns?

Answer 5

Changes in the optic array due to movement

Question 6

What are changes inn the optic array referred to as?

Answer 6

Optic flow patterns

Question 7

How do optic flow patterns occur?

Answer 7

Because of movement

Question 8

What information do optic flow patterns provide us with?

Answer 8

Information about our position, direction and speed

Question 9

What type of movements cause changes to the optic array?

Answer 9

The environment moving
The person moving
The persons eyes moving even though they are stationary

Question 10

What is a texture gradient?

Answer 10

A sudden change in texture

Question 11

What are texture gradients a good indicator of?

Answer 11

Distance

Question 12

What types of things may texture gradients indicate?

Answer 12

A change in the direction of a surface e.g. A shift from wall to floor
Distance

Question 13

In regards to texture gradient, how do things in the foreground appear?

Answer 13

Bigger and more detailed

Question 14

In relation to texture gradient, how do things in the distance appear?

Answer 14

Smaller and less detailed

Question 15

How does Gibson believe our perceptual system has evolved?

Answer 15

To perceive directly the potential uses of objects (affordances)

Question 16

What are affordances?

Answer 16

The potential of uses of object

Question 17

What can affordances also be described as?

Answer 17

Action possibilities

Question 18

Give an example of an affordance

Answer 18

A cabbage could be used as a football, doorstop or weapon

Question 19

How do we come to conclusions about potential uses of objects?

Answer 19

They have certain characteristics we can perceive use for

Question 20

What is Gibson’s theory called?

Answer 20

The bottom up theory

Question 21

Briefly, what are the strengths of Gibson’s bottom up theory?

Answer 21

Emphasises the importance of movement
Biological basis, supported by studies
Better than top-down theories because humans view much of the world the same way
There are many useful applications

Question 22

Why was Gibson right to place a large emphasis on vision for action?

Answer 22

It has more ecological validity

Question 23

What is vision for action?

Answer 23

The importance of movement

Question 24

What is the importance of movement also known as?

Answer 24

Vision for action

Question 25

In regards to vision for action, why do Top-Down theories lack?

Answer 25

Because they mainly look at two dimensional objects in static conditions

Question 26

Why is Gibson’s theory having a firm biological basis a strength?

Answer 26

Because it is supported by studies that suggest perception is innate

Question 27

What studies suggest perception is innate?

Answer 27

E.J. Gibson’s visual cliff study

Question 28

How does E.J. Gibson’s study support Gibson’s theory?

Answer 28

It suggests infants have a depth perception at an early age, therefore it is most likely innate and a nature process as Gibson suggests.

Question 29

How is Gibson’s theory better than Top-Down theories?

Answer 29

They look mainly at two dimensional objects in static conditions
They would also suggest more individual differences and errors in perception than there tend to be

Question 30

What applications does Gibson’s theory have?

Answer 30

Recent research (new scientists 2005) has used information from the optic array and affordances to design a robot capable of movement 
Road markings approaching roundabouts make people aware of their speed

Question 31

Briefly, what are the weaknesses of Gibson’s theory?

Answer 31

It doesn’t explain why visual illusions occur

The idea of affordances is questionable

Question 32

Explain the weakness of Gibson’s theory which involves visual illusions…

Answer 32

He doesn’t explain why the occur and maintained they were not very important. Also that visual illusions lack ecological validity. However there must be a reason for them

Question 33

Explain the weakness of Gibson’s theory about affordances…

Answer 33

It is difficult to accept the concept that a person who had never seen an object would know what to do with it. In light of this, it is very difficult to test as it would involve creating a new, unfamiliar object.