PERCEPTION!

Perception

•What is perception What is perception and how does it and how does it influence our influence our perspectives?perspectives?

Perception•The process of integrating, organizing, and interpreting sensation

And And Remember…Remember…your brain your brain

takes takes SHORTCUTS!SHORTCUTS!

Perceptions Influenced by:

----motivation----Values----Expectations----Experience----Culture----Cognitive Style----Personality

Selective AttentionSelective Attention

•focus of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

•Visual Capture–tendency for vision to dominate the other senses

Perception – tell your neighbor the definition!

•The process of The process of integrating, integrating, organizing, and organizing, and interpreting interpreting sensationsensation

– GestaltGestalt Psychologists focus on how we normally perceive images as groups or as whole groups or as whole objectsobjects, not isolated elements

“the whole is more than the sum of itsparts ..”

– Our brain takes shortcuts!Our brain takes shortcuts!

Gestalt Psychology

Figure- Ground relationship

• organization of theorganization of thevisual field into objects visual field into objects (figures)……… that stand (figures)……… that stand out from their out from their surroundings (ground)surroundings (ground)

• Analyzing separate Analyzing separate information allows us to information allows us to re-act to each individual re-act to each individual object accordinglyobject accordingly

What is the figure, and what is the background here?

Camouflage

• when figures when figures blend into the blend into the backgroundbackground

• No distinction No distinction between “figure” between “figure” and “ground”and “ground”

Where is it?

– Remember, Gestalt is our Remember, Gestalt is our brain’s way of being brain’s way of being efficient.efficient.

– We see things as “whole”We see things as “whole”

Our brain takes shortcuts!Our brain takes shortcuts!

Gestalt Psychology

……sometimes sometimes this is great! this is great!

Automatic Automatic processes processes

can can enhanceenhance our our

perception perception

Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs!

cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The

phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr

the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and

you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not

raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas

tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! 

……sometimes sometimes this is bad! this is bad! Automatic Automatic

processes can processes can interfereinterfere with with

our our perception perception

RED

Read the following words out loud…

BLUE

GREEN

Now when you see the word, say ONLY the COLOR, not the

word itself…

BLUEGREEN

YELLOWBROWN

ORANGE

PINKRED

Our brain gets Our brain gets so used to so used to

seeing things as seeing things as whole objects whole objects (top down), it (top down), it struggles with struggles with

the “bottom up”the “bottom up”

Gestalt Perception

– Other Gestalt principles involves Other Gestalt principles involves groupinggrouping objects together (again, objects together (again, seeing them as “whole”)seeing them as “whole”)

– Several factors influence how we Several factors influence how we will group objects:will group objects:•ProximityProximity•SimilaritySimilarity•ContinuityContinuity•ClosureClosure

proximityproximity

–- your brain likes to group nearby figures together

• Having trouble Having trouble understanding the sign?understanding the sign?

• Your brain is trying to Your brain is trying to group the words based on group the words based on proximity…proximity…

–similarity- similarity- Objects that are Objects that are similar in similar in appearance are appearance are more likely to more likely to be perceived as be perceived as belonging in the belonging in the same groupsame group

Color similarity – we see two “groups” of fruit, not 10 individual ones

Continuity (or Continuity (or continuation)continuation)The tendency to Perceive

continuous patterns

Continuation in artwork…

Two objects…or three?

Closure (or completeness)Closure (or completeness)--

–The tendency to overlook incompleteness, and complete objects

–We make them fit our preconceptions

closureclosure

• Do you Do you see a see a square?square?

• How How many many triangles?triangles?

Familiar Familiar objects are objects are easier for our easier for our mind to mind to complete…complete…

GESTALTGESTALT = seeing things as “whole”

•Gestalt cues employ principle of “praegnanz”“praegnanz”

the brain will always favor the “simplest solution” it

can findThat solution is based on

what you already know and expect in a given context

Constancy–perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in retinal image

• There are three types of constancy cues:– Size Constancy– Shape Constancy– Brightness Constancy

Size Constancy•Objects closer to us will produce bigger images on our retinas, and as they move away they project a smaller image. The actual size of the object does not change

• …our brains assume that the guys in the background are similar in height to the other people….they are just farther away…

• …but look how much smaller of an image they cast on our retina….surprising isn’t it?

…by the same token, if an object farther away WERE the same size, our brain assumes it is

much larger than it actually is…

• Objects viewed from different angles will produce different shapes on our retina. Though we may change our position, the shape doesn’t change.

Shape Constancy

• We perceive it as being “slanted” and therefore being the same shape as the circles in the columns on the right

The 3 columns on the left and the 3 on The 3 columns on the left and the 3 on the right are slightly different. Does the right are slightly different. Does

the the middlemiddle column belong with the left column belong with the left or the right?or the right?

• …but if you look carefully, you will notice that they are actually exactly the same as the circles on the left…

Brightness/Color Constancy

•We perceive objects as having a constant color, despite lighting, shading, etc.

Are all these bricks the same color?

We perceive the white as a constant whiteness, regardless of the shadow, when in reality, it is the same gray as the gray squares...trust me.

Depth Perception• Depth Cues allow us to

perceive the world in three dimensions.– Monocular CuesMonocular Cues are depth

cues that do not depend on having two eyes working in conjunction together– Binocular CuesBinocular Cues are

depth cues that depend on having two eyes working in conjunction with each other

•Relative Height•Relative Size•Texture Gradient • Interposition•Relative

Clarity/Shadowing•Linear Perspective•Relative motion/motion

parallax

Monocular Cues

relative size

•smaller image is more distant

texture gradient

– coarse --> closefine --> distant

–(Look at the floor beneath you, and then across the room)

Interposition/ Overlap

•A closer object blocks a more distant object

relative clarity/shadowing

•hazy object seen as more distant

•Lighted objects seem closer

•Darker objects seem further away

Relative Clarity

Shadowing

• Notice the “perception” of depth changes when shading is reversed

If it doesn’t work…try clicking HERE

Relative Height

• Objects higher in our field of vision are perceived as farther away

• Vertical Dimensions are often perceived as longer than identical horizontal dimensions

Who’s farthest away? Who’s tallest?

linear perspective

•parallel lines converge with distance

Vanishing Point – where two parallel lines connect in the distance

relative motion/ Motion Parallax

•closer objects seem to move faster

•(riding in a car, trees along the road vs. houses in the distance)

•Artists use these all the time to give their work a true feeling of depth

• Trompe l'oeil

Check out this picture…

…from a different angle!

• Same drawing from another angle…

These visual tricks provide These visual tricks provide depth and dimension to depth and dimension to artwork on wallsartwork on walls

• Artwork inside houses

• And of course….

• Classical Art

• Escaping Criticism, 1874, by Pere Borrell del Caso

Binocular Cues–convergenceconvergence

•neuromuscular cue•two eyes move inward for

near objects(bring a pencil slowly toward your eyes- keep focusing on the pencil- feel your eyes move)

–(Retinal) Binocular (Retinal) Binocular disparitydisparity•images from the two eyes differ

•closer the object, the larger the disparity

• (Hold a pencil in front of you, close one eye, then close the other eye- you get two different images)

Binocular Depth Cues: Finger Sausage

Believe or not – there is a three dimensional hour glass

in here!

Motion• Eye muscle activity

• Changing retinal image• Contrast of the moving object and its stationary

background

• All combine to bring us the perception of motion

Motion•Stroboscopic Stroboscopic Motion-Motion- timed flashing lights or moving pictures that give the illusion of movement

Factors That Influence Perceptual Interpretations

•Perceptual SetPerceptual Set–The tendency to perceive a person or a situation in a particular way due to our past experiences with similar persons or situations

Perpetual Set - UFO

•  

Original Image – what do you see?

• “this is the first blowup to just 500 times the original.. and addition of the cyan blue filter.. that will develop the interior of the ship”

“Below is the ship solarized and invert to find edges.. from the blue cyan filter.. this is just 500 times.. and for the abduction and cattle mutilation pix i had to go to 3000 times.. “

“from the solarized version.. i go to desaturation.. of color and then increase the enlargement.. ive found for myself it is better to have the photo in black and white to see the detail.. the colors are not as clear.. and btw some of the scenes in this are sexual.. i may eventually cut some out.. but these guys are certainly preoccupied with sex.. “

“NEXT IS CATTLE ABDUCTION FROM THE ABOVE PHOTO CUT>.”

“this is one of the two first cuts i made and shows a horse being abducted and probably the usual cuts.. etc.. or perhaps just DNA research..”

…see anything yet? It depends on your “perceptual set” I guess…

“Below is the same picture … only OUTLINED.. and i think you can compare and see what is happening.. and certainly the ANSWER to many of the CATTLE MUTILATIONS ETC.. but i don't believe all of them.. the LIzARDS on this planet also use the horse and animals for sacrifice and ritual.. and even HANG HORSES.. these are not NOT NICE CRITTERS WHO ABUSE AND USE ALL OF THE LIFE ON THIS PLANET IN DEROGATORY METHODS...the PRIESTESS is also sometimes considered to be a REPTILIAN PRINCESS WHO TAKE CHARGE OF MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS ON AND OFF THIS PLANET..”

“ABDUCTIONS SHOULD END”

…regardless of our perceptions, I think we all can agree on that…

Right side of room – get Right side of room – get ready to close your eyes!ready to close your eyes!

Perceptual Set!Perceptual Set!

Left side of the room - Get Left side of the room - Get your pencil ready and be your pencil ready and be prepared to jot something prepared to jot something in the margins of your in the margins of your notes!notes!

Right Side – Close those eyes!Right Side – Close those eyes!

Quick! Write down what you think this a drawing of

Everyone open Everyone open your eyes!your eyes!

Right side of the room - Get Right side of the room - Get your pencil ready and be your pencil ready and be prepared to jot something prepared to jot something in the margins of your in the margins of your notes!notes!

Left Side – Close those eyes!Left Side – Close those eyes!

Quick! Write down what you think this a drawing of

•Raise your hand if you said….Mouse!

•Raise your hand if you said….Face!

Our expectations Our expectations influence our influence our perceptions!perceptions!

…….Fac.Facee

Mouse…Mouse…

Perceptual Illusions•When our normal, automatic perception processes guide us to the wrong conclusions

•…because your brain takes because your brain takes shortcuts, what you perceive shortcuts, what you perceive is not necessarily reality!is not necessarily reality!

Do you perceive a face?Do you perceive a face?

• When our normal, automatic perception processes guide us to the wrong conclusions

• …because your because your brain takes brain takes shortcuts, what shortcuts, what you perceive is you perceive is not necessarily not necessarily reality!reality!

Extrasensory Perception Extrasensory Perception = ESP= ESP

•Some people claim to have Some people claim to have extra powers of perceptionextra powers of perception

•Perception not with any of Perception not with any of your physical senses but with your physical senses but with your mind!your mind!

ParapsychologyParapsychology• The study of ESP and its many forms is known as The study of ESP and its many forms is known as

ParapsychologyParapsychology• PARA means “alongside”PARA means “alongside”

• considered by many to be a “pseudoscience”considered by many to be a “pseudoscience”

Parapsychology includes the Parapsychology includes the study of:study of:

telepathy, telepathy, precognition, clairvoyance, precognition, clairvoyance, psycho-kinesis, near-death psycho-kinesis, near-death experiences, reincarnation experiences, reincarnation

and apparitional experiences.and apparitional experiences.

I see dead peopleI see dead people.

Subliminal Perception

•Thresholds imply that there must be stimulus below and beyond our current levels of detection. Can human behavior be Can human behavior be influenced by stimulus that influenced by stimulus that is below or beyond our is below or beyond our level of awareness?level of awareness?

Study!Subliminal messagesSTUDY!Subliminal messagesSubliminal messages• Public concern 1957 • A marketing researcher

claimed dramatic increases in the sales of popcorn (58% increase!)when he flashed the phrase "Eat popcorn" for 1/2000 of a second during a movie.

Despite public rage over Despite public rage over the possibilities of “mind the possibilities of “mind control”, further research control”, further research

has shown no evidence has shown no evidence that subliminal messages that subliminal messages influence out long-term influence out long-term

behavior.behavior.