Unit 2.1-2.2 ab

Gestalt

An organized whole

Figure-ground

Organization of the visual field into objects

Grouping

Tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

Closure

filling in missing details

Similarity

things similar in color, shape, or size are perceived to be more related

Proximity

Things closer to each other are perceived to be more related

Law of Pragnanz

Perceive ambiguous images as the simplest form

Common fate

Elements moving in the same direction are more related

Good continuation

things on a line are more related than on a curve

Depth perception

the ability to see in 3D

Visual cliff

Testing depth perception in infants

Binocular cues

a depth cue that needs both eyes

Retinal disparity

Binocular cue comparing different information from both retinas

Convergence

Cue to a nearby object's distance

Monocular cue

depth cue like interposition or linear perspective

Relative clarity

Objects closer look clearer

Relative size

Object looking bigger is closer

Interposition

position

Shape consistency

Knowing an object is consistent despite being a different angle

Stroboscopic movement

Continuous movement when seeing slightly varying still images

Phi phenomenon

Two or more adjacent lights blink on and off

Autokinetic effect

a still spot of light in a dark room seems to move

Motion parallax

Objects seem to move at diff speeds and directions depending on their distance

Perceptual constancy

Objects are unchanging despite retinal images changing

Color constancy

Familiar objects have consistent color even in changing light

Brightness constancy

Brightness is constant despite light changes

Lightness constancy

Lightness(light/dark) is constant

Perceptual adaptation

Adjust changed sensory input→ Ames room

Executive Functioning

Cognitive skills that work together-- goal-directed behavior

Algorithm

Methodical, logical thinking, guarantees solving a problem, slower

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts, efficient, but more error-prone

Intuition

immediate and automatic feeling or thought-- no conscious reasoning

Representative heuristics

stereotypes

Availability heuristic

judging the likelihood based on how easily examples come to mind-- based on recent events

Insight

sudden realization of a problem’s solution

Confirmation bias

tendency to search for info that supports preconceptions

Fixation

The inability to see a problem from a new perspective

Functional fixedness

Obstacle in problem solving

Mental set

Approaching a problem in one particular way→ quadratic formula

Overconfidence

Tendency to be more confident than correct

Planning fallacy

not dedicating enough time, resources, or effort

Belief perseverance

persistence of an initial belief even after they’ve been discredited

Framing

How an issue is posed

Nudge

encouraging people to make decisions -- action choice

Gambler’s fallacy

random events are based on previous events

Sunk Cost fallacy

Not wanting to “waste” time or energy that’s already been spent so investing more

Prisoners dilemma

game theory trying to predict behavior

Cognition

All mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating

Metacognition

thinking about thinking

Concept

mental grouping of similar objects, events, or ideas

Prototype

mental image or best ex. of a category

Schema

concept/framework to organize information

Assimilation

Interpreting new experiences in terms of existing schemas

Accommodation

adapting our current schemas for new info