Transcript Introduction to Psychology

Perception
Making Sense of the World
Perception
a process of organizing and
interpreting sensory information,
enabling us to recognize meaningful
objects and events
Often produces errors in perceiving
the world
Perceptual Illusions
Perceptual errors
usually ~harmless
Sometimes deadly
Perception
Selective Attention
focus of conscious
awareness on a
particular stimulus
Perceptual Organization
Visual Capture
tendency for vision to dominate the
other senses
Gestalt- an organized whole
tendency to integrate pieces of information
into meaningful wholes
Perceptual Organization
Grouping
the perceptual tendency to organize
stimuli into coherent groups
Grouping Principles
proximity- group nearby figures together
similarity- group figures that are similar
continuity- perceive continuous patterns
connectedness- spots, lines and areas are
seen as unit when connected
PerceptualOrganizationGrouping Principles
Perceptual Organization
Figure and Ground
organization of visual field
into objects (figures) that
stand out from
surroundings (ground)
Perceptual OrganizationDepth Perception
Depth Perception
ability to see objects in three dimensions
Binocular cues
retinal disparity
images from the two eyes differ
closer the object, the larger the disparity
convergence
neuromuscular cue
two eyes move inward for near objects
Perceptual OrganizationDepth Perception
Monocular Cues
relative size
smaller image is more distant
Relative Size
Perceptual OrganizationDepth Perception
Monocular Cues
interposition
closer object blocks distant object
Perceptual OrganizationDepth Perception
Perceptual OrganizationDepth Perception
Monocular Cues
linear perspective
parallel lines converge with distance
Linear
perspective
Which horizontal line
seems longer?
Converging lines
~distance
Horz lines same retinal S
Top perceived farther
away
Perceptual Organization
Linear Perspective &
Monsters
Perceptual Constancy
Perceptual Constancy
perceiving objects as unchanging despite
changes in retinal image
Shape
Size
Experience
video
Size Constancy
What’s happening
here?
Experience tells him it
is a large ship far
away
Really it is a small
ship close
Perceptual Interpretation
Perceptual Adaptation
(vision) ability to adjust to an
artificially displaced visual field
Upside-Down Vision Video
Perceptual Set
a mental predisposition to
perceive one thing and not another
Perceptual Set
Mental predisposition to perceive one
thing and not another
Affects our perceptions of the world
Errors
Individual differences in perception
Perceptual Set
What do you
see here?
Perceptual SetSchemas
Flying Saucers or Clouds?
Perceptual Set
What do
you see?
Perceptual Set
What do
you see?
Perceptual Set Demo
If your last name starts with the letter ‘a’
- ‘n’ close your eyes
Others look at the screen
Perceptual Set Demo
Woman
Eyes
Face
Perceptual Set Demo
Rest of you close your eyes now
Others look at the screen
Perceptual Set Demo
Performance
Music
Saxophone
Perceptual Set Demo
Everyone look at the screen
IMMEDIATELY write down what you see
first...
What do you see?
Creation of Perceptual Set
First group saw:
Woman
Eyes
Face
Second group saw
Performance
Music
Saxophone
Perceptual SetSchemas
What you see in the
center is influenced
by perceptual set
Face or saxophone
Perceptual Set
Experience/context impacts percep sets
Individual differences
Momentary fluctuations
No objective reality
We all perceive the world differently at
different times
Perception & Context
Group Activity II: ESP
In groups of 4-5 and using the text:
Define ESP and describe at least 2 types
Describe the kind of research that examines
ESP
Summarize the state of the scientific
evidence for ESP
PLEASE TURN THIS IN AFTER CLASS!
ESP
Extrasensory Perception
Controversial claim that perception can occur
apart from sensory input
Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Precognition
Parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomena
ESP
Psychokinesis
ESP
No scientifically reliable and valid
evidence for ESP has yet been found
Does NOT mean ESP does not exist
No evidence yet
Skeptical, critical attitude of science
Curious
Explorers
Perception Summary
Illusions & Organization
Depth perception
Perceptual constancy
Perceptual Set
ESP