Unit 8 - Perception Flashcards
Ecological theory
That which is being perceived is already present in the environment and completely contained is the stimulus being perceived
Absolute threshold
The minimum detectable amount of physical energy 50% of the time
Constructionist theory
A person must construct an image of reality from fragments of sensory info. The construction is influenced by past experiences and knowledge
Psychophysics
An area of study that focuses on the relationship between the physical energy of stimuli and the psychological experience those stimuli produce
Difference threshold
Difference between two absolute thresholds
Figure Ground perception
Figures: features to be emphasized
Ground: the meaningless, contour-less background
Figure is the visual field that has meaning and stand in front of the rest of the relatively meaningless background
Binocular Disparity
The difference between the two retinal images of an object that gives us depth perception as a result of convergence
Depth perception
Perception of distance attained by distance cues or binocular disparity that allows us to experience the world in 3D view, not as a 2D movie
Perceptual Constancy
The perception of object as constant in size, shape, color & other properties change in their retinal eye
Size Constancy
The ability of the brain to factor in distance to perceive an objects size accurately
Shape Constancy
Objects will continue to look the same, even though the shape of it’s retinal image changes dramatically as you move it. The brain automatically integrates info about retinal images & distance movement occurs
Linear Perspective
A depth cue that states the closer together 2 converging lines are, the greater the perceived distance
Interposition
Closer objects block the view of things farther away
Relative size
A depth cue whereby larger objects are perceived as closer than smaller ones
Relative motion
Object that are closer are often perceived to be moving faster than object farther away
Textural Gradient
A graduate change in the texture or “grain” of the visual field
Convergence
When the eyes rotate inward and focus on an object from 2 different focal points. Each retina sees the image feel a slightly different angle
Context
The overall situation in which an event occurs
Expectancy
Can bias perception toward one recognition or another by creating a perceptual set
Perceptual set
A readiness or predisposition to perceive a stimulus in a certain way
Experience
Collection of events through which knowledge or skill is gained
Visual cliff
A glass-topped table that has a pattern placed beneath it in a way that makes one side of the table to be a high cliff used to prove that depth perception is present at birth but fear of depth is learned later
