psychology terms 2.1a - 2.1b

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to see visible objects when attention is elsewhere.
Ex: Missing a pedestrian while texting and walking.

Change Blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment.
Ex: Not noticing a new haircut on a friend.

Gestalt

Theory emphasizing the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Ex: Seeing a complete circle despite gaps in the outline.

Perceptual Sets

Tendency to perceive things a certain way based on expectations.
Ex: Seeing a cloud as a face due to prior suggestions.

Binocular Depth Cues

Depth cues that require both eyes.
Ex: Using retinal disparity to judge distance.

Retinal Disparity

The difference in images between the two eyes for depth perception.
Ex: Holding a finger close to your face and seeing it double

Convergence

Eyes turning inward to focus on a nearby object.
Ex: Crossing your eyes to look at your nose

Monocular Depth Cues

Depth cues that require only one eye.
Ex: Judging distance using linear perspective.

Relative Clarity

Objects that are hazy appear farther away.
Ex: Distant mountains looking blurry.

Relative Size

Smaller objects are perceived as farther away.
Ex: Cars in the distance looking tiny.

Texture Gradient

Objects with less texture appear farther away.
Ex: Bricks looking smoother in the distance.

Linear Perspective

Parallel lines converging in the distance indicate depth.
Ex: Railroad tracks meeting at the horizon.

Interposition

Perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in perspective.
Ex: Recognizing a door as rectangular even when open.

Apparent Movement

Perceiving motion where there is none.
Ex: Seeing movement in a flipbook animation

Selective Attention

The ability to focus on one particular stimulus among many competing ones.

Ex: paying attention to what you wanna pay attention to

Figure-Ground

The organization of the visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings (ground).

Depth Perception

The ability to see objects in three dimensions and judge distance accurately.

Visual Cliff

A laboratory device used to test depth perception in infants and animals.

Perceptual Constancies

The perception that objects remain the same in size, shape, and color despite changes in perspective or lighting.

Perceptual Adaptation

The ability of the brain to adjust to changes in the visual environment, such as a shifted visual field.

Stroboscopic Movement

A phenomenon in which rapid presentation of slightly varying images creates the illusion of motion.

Phi Phenomenon

The illusion of movement created even though no object is moving physically

Autokinetic Effect

The perceived movement of a stationary light in a dark environment.