2.1 Perception AP Psychology

bottom up processing

Begins with sensory input, building perception from the smallest pieces of sensory information (like a puzzle).

top down processing

Uses prior knowledge, expectations, and experiences to interpret sensory information.

schemas

Mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information.

perceptual set

A readiness to perceive things a certain way, based on expectations, emotions, or cultural background.

gestalt psychology

Focuses on how people naturally organize sensory information into meaningful wholes

figure and ground

Distinguishing an object (figure) from its background (ground).

proximity

We group nearby objects together.

similarity

We group similar-looking items.

closure

We fill in gaps to see a complete object.

good figure

objects grouped together tend to be perceived as a single figure. tendency to simplify

continuation

when there is an intersection between two or more objects, people tend to perceive each object as a single uninterrupted object

selective attention 

focusing on one thing among many distractions

cocktail party effect

Ability to focus on a single conversation in a noisy room.

inattentional blindness

failing to notice visible objects when attention is directed elsewhere

depth perception

the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distances

visual cliff

A classic experiment used to test infants’ depth perception by placing them on a platform with a “drop” covered by clear glass.

binocular cues

depth cues that require both eyes to work together

retinal disparity

The difference between images in the left and right eyes; the brain uses this difference to calculate depth.

convergence

As objects get closer, our eyes turn inward. The brain interprets this muscle movement as a cue for depth.

monocular cues

Depth cues that can be seen with just one eye.

relative size

Objects that appear smaller are perceived as farther away.

interposition

When one object overlaps another, it’s perceived as closer.

texture gradient

objects with finer details are seen as closer

relative clarity 

Hazy or blurry objects seem farther away than clearer objects.

linear perspective

parallel lines appear to converge in the distance, like railroad tracks

perceptual constancies

Recognizing objects as constant despite changes in lighting, distance, or angle.

color constancy

we perceive colors as stable even when lighting changes

shape constancy

objects maintain the same shape despite changes in viewpoint 

size constancy

An object appears the same size even as it moves closer or farther away.

apparent motion

Perception of movement when there is none.

stroboscopic movement

Quick succession of slightly different images that appear to move, like a flipbook or movie frames.

phi phenomenon

Lights blinking on and off in sequence, creating the illusion of movement.

autokinetic effect

A stationary point of light appears to move in a dark room because of minor eye movements.

perceptual adaptation

The brain’s ability to adjust to altered sensory environments.