Psychology AQA GCSE -Perception

Difference between sensation and perception

Sensation refers to the process of detecting and converting physical energy (like light and sound) into neural signals, whereas perception involves the interpretation and conscious experience of these signals, allowing us to make sense of our surroundings.

Visual cues and constancies

Visual cues are environmental signals that aid in interpreting visual stimuli, while visual constancies allow us to perceive objects as stable despite variations in sensory input, such as lighting or distance.

Monocular depth cues

Monocular depth cues are visual indicators that provide depth information using only one eye. Examples include height in the visual field, relative size of objects, occlusion (overlapping), and linear perspective.

Binocular depth cues

Binocular depth cues require both eyes to perceive depth. Important examples are retinal disparity (the slight difference in images received by each eye) and convergence (the inward movement of both eyes to focus on a nearby object).

Gibson's direct theory of perception

Gibson's direct theory posits that sensory information in the world is rich enough for direct perception, requiring no reliance on past experiences or cognitive inferences.

Role of motion parallax in perception

Motion parallax is the perceived shift in position of objects as an observer moves, providing crucial depth perception and spatial awareness of distances between objects.

Visual illusions

Visual illusions occur when perceived reality contradicts physical reality due to misleading cues or misinterpretations by the brain, highlighting the complexities of visual processing.

Explanations for visual illusions

Explanations for visual illusions include ambiguity (multi-faceted interpretation of objects), misinterpreted depth cues, fictive perceptions (without real stimuli), and the concept of size constancy, where size perception is influenced by surrounding elements.

Examples of visual illusions

Notable examples of visual illusions include the Ponzo illusion, Müller-Lyer illusion, Rubin's vase, Ames Room, Kanizsa triangle, and Necker cube, each showcasing different perceptual challenges.

Gregory's constructivist theory of perception

Gregory's constructivist theory asserts that perception is constructed through inferences made from visual cues and prior experiences rather than being a straightforward reflection of sensory input.

Factors affecting perception

Perception can be influenced by various factors including perceptual set (our mental readiness to perceive things a certain way) and external influences like culture, motivation, emotions, and expectations.

Gilchrist and Nesberg study

The Gilchrist and Nesberg study examined how motivation, specifically hunger, influences the perception of food images, revealing that hungry individuals perceive these images as more appealing.

Bruner and Minturn study

The Bruner and Minturn study investigated the role of perceptual set on the interpretation of ambiguous figures, demonstrating that our expectations can significantly alter our perception of stimuli.