ap psych 4.4

Perceptual Set

A tendency to perceive or notice some aspects of the available sensory data and ignore others. It's influenced by our expectations, experiences, and context, shaping our perception by predisposing us to see what we expect to see.

Gestalt Psychology

We perceive whole objects or figures (gestalts) rather than just a collection of parts. It suggests that our brains are wired to see structure, pattern, and organization in the world, guiding how we interpret sensory information and experience perception. 

Figure Ground

refers to the ability to distinguish an object (figure) from its surroundings (ground)

Monocular Depth Cues

Visual cues that allow people to perceive depth and distance using only one eye

Relative Clarity

A monocular cue for depth perception where clearer, sharper objects are perceived as being closer, while hazy or blurred objects are perceived as being farther away

Relative Size

a visual cue where objects closer to us appear larger, while objects further away appear smaller. 

Texture Gradient

The way we perceive texture to become denser and finer as it recedes into the distance

Linear Perspective

a depth cue where parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance. 

Interposition

occurs when one object overlaps another, leading us to perceive the overlapping object as closer. 

Binocular Depth Cues

Visual information that requires both eyes to perceive depth and distance.

Retinal Disparity

When each eye sees a slightly different picture because of their separate positions on our face.

Convergance

When our eyes moveinward towards each other to focus on a close object

Perceptual Constancies

Our brain’s ability to see objects as unchanging, even when the image on our retina changes (such as size, shape, color)

Shape Constancy

Our ability to percieve an object as having the same shape, even when our angle view or distance from which we see the object changes.

Size Constancy

our perception that an object remains the same size, even when its distance from us changes, causing the image on our retina to grow or shrink.

Color Constancy

ability to perceive colors of objects as stable under varying lighting conditions.

Apparent Movement

The perception of motion when there isn’t any actual movement

Perceptual Adaptation

Our ability to adjust when we are constantly exposed to altered sensory information.