Psychology AQA GCSE - Perception

Binocular Depth Cues

Visual cues that rely on both eyes working together to provide depth perception.

Retinal Disparity

The slight difference in the two retinal images due to the angle from which each eye views an object.

Convergence

The inward turning of the eyes to focus on a nearby object, signaling its proximity.

Cross-Cultural Research

Study examining how factors like norms, values, and behaviors vary across different cultures.

Cultural Influences on Memory Recall

Societal norms and values shape how individuals remember events, altering memory accuracy.

Expectation in Perception

How previous experiences and beliefs influence the interpretation of sensory information.

Gibson's Direct Theory of Perception

Posits that perception is the direct pick-up of information from the environment.

Gregory's Constructivist Theory of Perception

Suggests perception is an active process where the brain constructs experiences based on prior knowledge.

Independent Groups Design

Research design that assigns different participants to separate groups to compare treatment effects.

Monocular Depth Cues

Visual cues enabling depth perception using one eye, such as relative size and texture gradient.

Motion Parallax

The perceived movement of objects when the observer moves their head or eyes.

Motivation in Perception

How internal drives and desires influence the interpretation of sensory information.

Perception

The process by which the brain organizes and interprets sensory information from the environment.

Perceptual Set

The tendency to perceive information based on prior experiences, beliefs, and expectations.

Sensation

The process of detecting and receiving information from the environment through sensory organs.

Visual Cliff Experiment

Study investigating depth perception in infants using a setup simulating steep drop-offs.

Visual Illusions

Sensory discrepancies where perceived information does not match physical reality.

Affordances

Perception-action relationships that guide behavior based on the potential actions an object offers.

Ambiguous Figures

Visual stimuli that can be perceived in multiple ways, leading to shifting perceptions.

Ames Room

A distorted room creating an optical illusion where people appear to change size.

Attention

The cognitive process of selectively focusing on specific stimuli or information.

Bottom-up Processing

Approach to perception that starts with sensory input and builds to overall understanding.

Bruner and Minturn Study

Research showing how culture affects perception by influencing cognitive processes.

Cognitive Psychology

The scientific study of mental processes including perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Color Constancy

Phenomenon allowing perceived color of an object to remain consistent under varying lighting.

Constructivism

The perspective that individuals create their own understanding of the world through experiences.

Context Effects

How perception and interpretation of a stimulus can be influenced by its environmental context.

Cultural Differences

Variations in beliefs, behaviors, customs, and values among people from different cultural backgrounds.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive surroundings in three dimensions and gauge distances.

Direct Perception

Ability to immediately interpret sensory information without higher cognitive processing.

Environmental Cues

External stimuli that influence behavior and trigger responses based on surroundings.

Figure-ground Relationship

Principle of perceptual organization distinguishing an object from its background.

Food Deprivation

Chronic lack of adequate food intake leading to emotional and cognitive consequences.

Galvanic Skin Response

Measures changes in skin conductance due to emotional arousal.

Gestalt Principles

Cognitive rules that explain how humans naturally perceive whole forms rather than individual elements.

Illusory Contours

Perceptions of outlines or shapes that are not actually present, filled in by the brain.

Inferences

Drawing conclusions based on available evidence or reasoning.

Informed Consent

Voluntary agreement to participate in a study after being informed of relevant details.

Kanizsa Triangle

Illusion where the brain perceives a triangle that does not exist, filling in gaps.

Müller-Lyer Illusion

Visual illusion where lines with outward-pointing arrows appear longer than identical lines with inward-pointing arrows.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Exploration of the relative influence of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) on behavior.

Neuroscience of Perception

Study of how the brain processes sensory information to create conscious experiences.

Nurture

Influence of external factors such as environment and experiences on individual development.

Optical Illusions

Visual stimuli that trick the brain into perceiving something inaccurately.

Optic Flow Patterns

Visual cues created by the movement of objects aiding in navigation and perception of motion.

Participant Variables

Characteristics of individuals in a research study that can influence their behavior.

Perceptual Biases

Systematic errors in interpreting sensory information leading to distorted perceptions.

Perceptual Adaptation

Ability to adjust to an environment or stimulus that initially distorts sensory impressions.

Perceptual Errors

Mistakes in interpreting sensory information resulting in distorted reality.

Perceptual Learning

Process of improving the brain's ability to interpret sensory information through repeated exposure.

Perceptual Organization

Brain's ability to organize sensory information into meaningful patterns and shapes.

Perceptual Sensitization

Increased sensitivity to stimuli from repeated exposure, enhancing perception.

Psychophysics

Study of the link between physical stimuli and human perception.

Reconstructive Memory

Alteration of memories based on beliefs, expectations, and prior knowledge.

Retinal Disparity

Slight difference in retinal images enhancing depth perception.

Rubin's Vase

Optical illusion depicting either a vase or two faces, highlighting figure-ground perception.

Schemas

Cognitive frameworks that organize knowledge and influence perception.

Sensation Seeking

Tendency to seek out novel and exciting experiences, often taking risks.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells that detect stimuli and convert them into neural impulses for brain interpretation.

Shape Constancy

Perceptual process allowing the recognition of an object's shape regardless of its angle.

Size Constancy

Perceptual phenomenon where the perceived size remains constant despite changes in distance.

Thresholds of Perception

Minimum stimulus levels required for detection and interpretation of sensations.

Top-down Processing

Cognitive approach where prior knowledge and expectations guide perception.

Validity

Extent to which a measure accurately assesses the concept it is intended to.

Visual Cues

Nonverbal signals conveyed through sight, influencing perception and behavior.

Visual Memory

Ability to recall previously seen images or objects.

Visual Perception

Process of interpreting and making sense of visual information received by the eyes.

Visual Processing

Brain interpreting visual information, including recognizing shapes and colors.