Gestalt Psychology Gestalt means “an organized whole.” These psychologists emphasize our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

Gestalt Psychology To perceive forms, we must organize the visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings (ground). This is figure-ground perception (like the clouds in the sky).

Gestalt Psychology Gestalt psychologists focused on how we GROUP objects together. We innately look at things in groups and not as isolated elements. A form of Top-Down Processing. Proximity (group objects that are close together as being part of same group). Similarity (objects similar in appearance are perceived as being part of same group). Continuity (objects that form a continuous form are perceived as same group). Closure (we fill gaps in if we can recognize it).

Gestalt Psychology

Depth Perception The ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two dimensional. Allows us to judge distance.

Depth Cues Eleanor Gibson and her Visual Cliff Experiment for depth perception. If you are old enough to crawl, you are old enough to perceive depth. We see depth by using two cues that researchers have put in two categories: Monocular Cues Binocular Cues

Monocular Cues Interposition: if something is blocking our view, we perceive it as closer. Relative Size: if we know that two objects are similar in size, the one that looks smaller is farther away. Linear Perspective: parallel lines seem to converge with distance.

Monocular Cues Texture Gradient: the coarser it looks the closer it is. Relative Motion: things that are closer appear to move more quickly.

Monocular Cues Linear Perspective Interposition Relative size Texture gradient Relative Motion

Binocular Cues We need BOTH of our eyes to use these cues. Retinal Disparity - as an object comes closer to us, the differences in images between our eyes becomes greater (Like the Sausage Finger trick). Convergence - degree to which our eyes turn inward to focus on an object.

Motion Perception Stroboscopic effect (flip book effect). Phi phenomenon (blinking neon lights; like the marquee in front of the school).

Perceptual Constancy Perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images changes.

Perceptual Constancy Types of Constancy: Shape Constancy Size Constancy Lightness Constancy (ex. A white piece of paper indoors reflects considerably less light than does a black lump of coal outside on a bright, sunny day. Yet the paper looks white, and the coal black.)

Sensory Deprivation What happens when vision is restricted from birth? If their sight is restored, they can perceive figure from ground and colors, but they lack the experience to recognize shapes, forms and complete faces. Critical Period – for some aspects of sensory and perceptual development.

Perceptual Adaptation In vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field.

Perceptual Set Mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. What you see in the center picture is influenced by a perceptual set. Based on schemas.

Face Schemas The famous Mona Lisa . . . frown or smile?

Context Effects Based on the immediate context. How you perceive the box in the following picture depends on the context defined by the rabbits.

Human Factors Psychology Human factors psychologists help others by: A.) developing products that maximize usability. B.) working to improve worker safety and efficiency.

Extrasensory Perception Extrasensory perception (ESP): the ability to perceive events without using normal sensory receptors. Parapsychology: the field that studies ESP and other paranormal phenomena.

Types of ESP Telepathy: the ability to read minds. Psychokinesis: the ability to move objects. Precognition: the ability to predict the future. Clairvoyance: the ability to perceive objects or events.

There Is Little Scientific Evidence for Extrasensory Perception Reasons for skepticism: Many published ESP studies have used flawed research methodologies or failed to detect outright fraud by those they were testing.