Topic 2.1.1 - Gestalt Principles of Perception

Gestalt

German for “placed”, “put together”, or “pattern”

Figure-Ground

Organization of visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings based on law of good figure or simplicity

Proximity

Grouping nearby figures together

Similarity

Grouping similar items together

Continuity

Perceiving continuous patterns

Closure

Filling in gaps to create a whole object

Depth Perception

Ability to see objects in 3D despite images hitting our retinas in 2D

• allows us to judge distance

Visual Cliff

Model of a cliff with a “drop off” covered by sturdy glass

• involved in a DP study revealing that most infants who can crawl have developed depth perception

Binocular Cues

Depth cues that depend on use of 2 eyes, allowing us to use DP to judge distance of closer objects

Retinal Disparity

Brain compares images from 2 eyes, using disparity to determine distance

Convergence

Closer the object, more inward the eyes will angle to focus on it

Monocular Cues

Depth cues available to each eye separately, helping us judge distance of far objects

Relative Height

Higher items perceived as further away

Relative Size

When 2 items are assumed to be of similar size, the smaller one is perceived to be farther away

Interposition/Overlap

If one object block another, it is perceived as closer

Relative Motion

Appearance of movement used to judge distance of objects based on fixation point

• objects behind move forward and objects in front move backwards

Linear Perspective

When parallel lines appear to meet in the distance, the sharper the angle of convergence, the greater the perceived distance

Perceptual Constancy

Top-down process that recognizes objects without being deceived by changes in color, brightness, shape, or size