Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology of 97 Constancies- Allow us to recognize familiar stimuli under varying conditions. In vision, several constancies are important. Shape constancy allows us to recognize people and other objects from many different angles. Brightness constancy is where the relative brightness of objects remains the same under different conditions of illumination. Size constancy is the perception that the size of objects remains relatively constant, even though images on our retina change in size with variations in distance. Depth Perception- The retina receives information in only two dimensions (length and width), but the brain translates these cues into three-dimensional perceptions. It does this by using both monocular depth cues, which require only one eye, and binocular depth cues, which require both eyes. Monocular cues to judge distance and depth include patterns of light and shadow, linear perspective, interposition, height in the horizontal plane, texture, clarity, relative size, and motion parallax. Binocular disparity occurs as slightly different images are viewed by each eye and acted on by feature detectors for depth. A second binocular distance cue, convergence, is produced by feedback from the muscles that turn eyes inward to view a close object. Gestalt Principles of Organization- Gestalt psychologists were among the first to formulate rules by which the brain pieces together meaningful experiences out of fragments of sensation. The Gestalt theorists emphasized the importance of figure- ground relations, our tendency to organize stimuli into a central or foreground figure and a background. Gestalt theorists were interested in how separate stimuli come to be perceived as parts of larger wholes. The law of proximity says that elements near each other are likely to be perceived as belonging together. The law of similarity says that when parts of a configuration are perceived as similar, they will be perceived as belonging together. In the law of closure, people tend to close the open edges of a figure or fill gaps in an incomplete figure, so that their identification of form is more complete than it actually is. Finally, the law of continuity holds that people link individual elements together, so that they form a continuous line or pattern that makes sense. Illusions- Our analysis of perceptual schemas, hypotheses, and constancies allows us to understand some interesting perceptual experiences known as illusions, that is, compelling but incorrect perceptions. Such perceptions can be understood as erroneous perceptual hypotheses about the nature of a stimulus. 3.9 Influences on Perception Perceptual development involves both physical maturation and learning. Some perceptual abilities are innate or develop shortly after birth, whereas others require particular experiences early in life in order to develop. Cultural factors can influence certain aspects of perception, including picture perception and susceptibility to illusions. However, many aspects of perception seem constant across cultures. Visual deprivation studies, manipulation of visual input, and studies of restored vision have shown that the normal biological development of the perceptual system depends on certain sensory experiences at early periods of development. © 2015 Achieve Page 31