Module 7

Question 1

Gestalt psychology

Answer 1

Taking random parts and making it into something meaningful

Question 2

True or False: We naturally organize our environment into figure-ground relationships

Answer 2

True

Question 3

We organize our visual field into…

Answer 3

figures (objects)

Question 4

…that stand out from their…

Answer 4

ground (surroundings)

Question 5

similarity

Answer 5

Put items that look alike in the same group

Question 6

Proximity

Answer 6

If objects are close together, we put them in the same group

Question 7

Closure

Answer 7

Our tendency to look for the whole, not the parts
-We fill any gaps in our perceptual field
-The brain doesn’t like any gaps so it assumes they don’t
belong and fill in the space

Question 8

Continuity

Answer 8

Once an object moves in a certain direction, our brain
assumes it will continue in the same direction

Question 9

Depth perception

Answer 9

we use it to see in 3 dimensions and judge distance
-your eyes and brain use tricks to create that 3 dimension of depth

Question 10

Binocular depth cues

Answer 10

the eyes are two cameras, separated by a couple of inches in your head
-slightly different views of a scene
-the brain uses the different views to calculate distance and add depth to the scene

Question 11

Monocular depth cues

Answer 11

they work even is using just one eye
-We can “trick” our eyes into seeing 3 dimensions
-7 ways

Question 12

relative size

Answer 12

perceived size of an object
-if object of known size appears large,
-it is probably close it the object is small, it is probably distant

Question 13

relative motion

Answer 13

perceived slowness indicates if an object is distant
-ex: plane high above house appears to be crawling, if it
was 20 feet above, it would be going incredibly fast

Question 14

Interposition

Answer 14

closer objects partially obstruct the view of more distant objects
-ex: you know a tree is in front of a house because it blocks part of the house and vice versa

Question 15

Relative height

Answer 15

Distant object appear higher in your field of vision than close objects do

Question 16

Texture Gradient

Answer 16

Objects in the distance usually have a smoother texture than closer objects

Question 17

Relative clarity

Answer 17

Distant objects are less clear than close objects
-mostly outdoors
-Distant objects have a bluish, hazy appearance because of moisture and dust in the air.
-This can exaggerate your perception of depth causing things to look farther away than they are
-If the air is extremely clear, things may look closer than they really are.

Question 18

Linear perspective

Answer 18

Parallel lines seem to draw together in the distance
-The closer they are, the farther away it is
-ex: Saudi Arabia’s 159 mile long road

Question 19

Perceptual Constancy

Answer 19

We know that the size, shape and lightness of an object doesn’t change, even though the image on the retina changes
-3 types: size, shape, lightness

Question 20

Size consrancy

Answer 20

We expect size to remain constant
-Objects that appear big are close
-Objects that appear small are distant
-When things move closer to us, they get larger
-But we know the size isn’t really changing

Question 21

Shape constancy

Answer 21

We know the shape of an object hasn’t changed, even though our angle of sight may have
-Closed door is a rectangle
-Opened door is a trapezoid
-But we know it is still a rectangle

Question 22

Light constancy

Answer 22

Lets us know that an object has a constant level of lightness no matter the lighting conditions
-Printer paper looks bright white in the sun
-It looks gray in a dim room
-But we know it is still white

Question 23

Perceptual set

Answer 23

It is a mental predisposition to perceive something one way and not another
-clearest example of top-down
processing
-This mind-set can profoundly affect our view of the world
-ex: If you expect a concert to be wonderful,would that affect your perception of the concert? Probably

Question 24

Power of suggestion

Answer 24

People think fries taste better in a McDonald’s bag than a plain white bag
Even if there are McDonald’s fries in the white bag

Question 25

Subliminal messages

Answer 25

messages that are hidden in something you expect to see or hear.
-ex: arrow in the FedEx logo

Question 26

Schema

Answer 26

Concept or mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information
-Strongest schema is for faces