Psychology Reviewer Topic: Perception

1. AGENDA
– What isPerception?
– Typesof Perception
PerceptionisConstant
PerceptionisOrganized
PerceptionisSelective
PerceptionHasDepth
PerceptionHasErrors
PerceptionDefined
– Perceptioncanbe definedasourrecognitionandinterpretation of sensoryinformation.
– Is a unique interpretationof anexperience butnotanexact recordingof it.
– Is not100% accurate
– Factors that Influence Perception
– Factors that influence perceptioncaninclude:
1. Educationlevels
2. Intelligence
3. PreconceivedNotions
CHARACTERISTICS OF PERCEPTION
1. PerceptionisConstant
 Perceptual constancyreferstoperceivingfamiliarobjectsashavingstandardshape,size,
color,and locationregardlessof changesinthe angle of perspective,distance,and
lighting.
 Size Constancy
- is the tendencytoperceive anobjectasbeingthe same size regardlessof whetheritisclose or
far away.

2.  Shape Constancy
– isthe tendencytoperceive the shape of arigidobjectasconstantdespite differencesinthe
viewingangle.
 BrightnessConstancy
- our abilitytosee objectsascontinuingtohave the same brightnesseventhoughlight
may change theirimmediatesensoryproperties.
2. Perceptionis Organized
- It isthe processby whichwe groupoutside stimuli intorecognizable andidentifiable
patternsand whole objects.
 Closure Principle
- Closure isthe completionof anincompletestimulus. The law of closure statesthat
individualsperceiveobjectssuchasshapes,letters,pictures,etc.,asbeingwhole whenthey
are notcomplete.Specifically,whenpartsof a whole picture are missing,ourperceptionfills
inthe visual gap.
 NearnessPrinciple
- Whichstatesthat everystimulusisperceived initsmostsimple
form. Gestalttheoristsfollowedthe basicprinciple thatthe whole isgreaterthanthe
sumof itsparts.
 SimilarityPrinciple
- The principle of similarity statesthatthingswhichshare visual characteristicssuchas
shape,size,color,texture,value ororientationwill be seenasbelongingtogether.
- Stimuli thatare similartoone anotherare frequentlygroupedtogether;people
wearingthe same banduniformsare seenassimilarcomparedtoa group of
marchingpeople wearingeverydayclothes.
 ContinuityPrinciple
- The tendencyisto view afigure,pattern,orillustrationthat containsgapsas smooth
and continuousratherthanas discontinuous.
 ProximityPrinciple
- Withinthe realmof social psychology,the proximityprinciple accountsforthe
tendencyforindividualstoforminterpersonalrelationswiththosewhoare close by.
Second,the more people come intocontactwithone another,the more likelythe
interactionwill cultivatearelationship.
3. PerceptionisSelective
- isthe processbywhichindividuals perceivewhattheywanttoinmediamessages
while ignoringopposingviewpoints.Itisabroad termto identifythe behaviorall
people exhibittotendto"see things"basedontheirparticularframe of reference.
 VoluntaryAttention

3. - Sometimesanindividual will diverthisattentiontowardsaparticularactivityor
situationdeliberately.
- Enhancesthe perceptual representation
 InvoluntaryAttention
- At timesthe attentionisdivertedtowardssome otheractivitywithoutthe conscious
effort,maybe againstthe will of the individual.
- Affectsthe tendencytorespondtostimuli inone locationoranother.
 Habitual Attention
- meanfamiliarthroughfrequentorregularrepetition.
- Attentionof adevotee willbe divertedtowardsthe temple whichhe isvisiting
regularly,the momenthe passesthroughthatway.
 Factors AffectingAttention
- Intensity:Intense objectsortextgarnerattention.
- Example:Brightcolorsattract more attentionthan plainblacktext.
- Size:Objectsor textthatare larger gainmore attentionthannormal or
small objects.
- Example:Trafficsignsare large and are usuallyinall capital letters.
- Motion:Adultsandchildrenare more likelytopayattentiontoan objectwiththere
ismotioninvolved.(Ormrod,2008)
- Example:Childrenare more drawntotoysthat move such as toycars.
- Emotion: Wordswithstrong emotional connectionsseemtogainmore attention
than others.
- Example:Innursingschool,ourteacherwouldsay,"thiscould kill your patient",
whenshe wouldsaythat all studentswouldperkupandpayattentiondue tothe
nature of herstatement.
- Social cues:"People are more likelytopayattentiontothingstheysee otherslooking
at or reactingto." (Ormrod,2008)
- Example:If yousee a crowdof people staringatsomethingyouwilltryto
findoutwhat the groupis reactingto,its humancuriosity.
4. Perceptionhas Depth
- Depthperceptionisthe usual abilitytoperceive the worldinthree dimenson(3D) an
the distance of an object.
- Arisesfroma varietyof depthcues.
 MotionParallax
- whenan observermoves,the apparentrelative motionof several stationaryobjects
againsta backgroundgiveshintsabouttheirrelative distance
 Interposition

4. - occurs ininstanceswhere one objectoverlapsthe other,whichcausesustoperceive
depth
 Linear Perspective
- isa depthcue that isrelatedtoboth relative size andthe nextdepthcue,texture
gradient.
 Gradientand Texture
- isthe distortion insize whichcloserobjectshave comparedtoobjectsfartheraway.
It alsoinvolvesgroupsof objectsappearingdenserastheymove fartheraway.
5. Perceptionhas Errors
- Meaningnot seeingthe reality.
- Illusioncanbe understood
 Illusion
- a thingthat is or islikelytobe wronglyperceivedorinterpretedbythe senses.
 Hallucination
- an experience involvingthe apparentperceptionof somethingnotpresent.