PSY 3217 Ch 3: Visual Perception

Direct perception theories

perception comes from stimuli in the environment

parts are identified and put together, then recognition occurs

constructive perception theories

people actively construct perceptions using info based on expectations

Bottom-up (data driven)

processing relies on info from the environment

Top-down (conceptually driven)

processing relies on the perceiver’s prior experience

Cones

color vision and acuity (6m)

Rods

black and white, night vision (120m)

Principle of good continuation

lines tend to be seen as following the smoothest path

Ex.) Rope on beach

Law of pragnanz (principle of simplicity/good figure)

every stimulus pattern is seen so the resulting structure is as simple as possible

Ex.) olympic symbol

principle of similarity

similar things appear grouped together

speech segmentation

ability to tell which one word ends and another begins

transitional probabilities

knowing which sound will follow another in a word

likelihood principle

precieve the world in the way that is “most likely” based on past experiences

oblique effect

perceive verticals and horizontals easier than other orientation

light-from-above assumption

assume light comes from above because its common in the environment

Perceive shadows as specific info about depth and distance

scene schema

knowledge of what a scene ordinarily contains

Ex.) tiffanys = diamonds

What pathway

determining idetntiy of an object

Veritcal pathway (lower brain)

temporal

Where pathway

Determining location of an object

dorsal pathway (upper brain)

parietal