Perceptual Distortions Flashcards
What are Visual Illusions?
Visual illusions are one kind of perceptual distortion which occur when we misinterpret visual information and see stimuli in a way that conflicts with how it is in reality. It is not entirely understood as to how all visual illusions occur, but they can result from a variety of sources
What is a Physical Illusion?
Something in our physical external environment makes an image tricky to interpret during perception. For example, you may have noticed that the closer the moon is to the horizon line, the bigger it looks. This is something within our physical environment that gives rise to a perceptual visual illusion.
What are Biological Illusions?
Something biological makes an image difficult to interpret. For example, have you ever looked at a bright light and then turned it off? Could you still see the image of the bright light, almost like a bright shadow? This is due to our eyes and brain not keeping up with changing reality after intense light and giving rise to a perceptual illusion.
What are Psychological Illusions?
Something psychological. As you know, we may see things in a certain way due to our own application of biased reasoning (as demonstrated by perceptual sets). This can also give rise to perceptual illusions.
What are two of the most famous Visual Illusions? How do they work?
Müller-Lyer Illusion - Named after Franz Müller-Lyer (1857–1916) who originally described it in 1889, the Müller-Lyer illusion is a visual illusion in which one of two lines of equal length, each of which has opposite shaped ends, is incorrectly perceived as being longer than the other.
The Ames Room - This illusion occurs when a person views two people in a special Ames Room through a peephole that looks front-on into the room.
