What is Perception?

Def: Perception is our ability to recognize and process

sensory stimuli, or information from one or more of our 5
senses. The definition also includes our response to this
sensory information. Perception is basically the process of
us taking in sensory information and deciding, through our
brain, how to respond to it.

Why Do We Need It?

Perception helps to understand and make decisions about
the world around us. Perception makes sensory
information have an actual meaning as well as gives us
our ability to interact with our surroundings. Without
perception we would not have the ability to cross the street
while still being aware that a car is coming or read a word
and give it a meaning. Perception is needed in order to be
able to function even somewhat normally.

Perceptual Organization
Perceptual Organization is the process of grouping
visual elements together(like a picture) so that we can
be able to decide the meaning of the picture as a
whole.
1. Perceptual Constancy
The tendency to see familiar objects as a set
size, shape, color, etc. no matter the change in
angle of perspective, distance or lighting. It helps
to identify objects in multiple different
occasions(events).
2. Gestalt Principles
Law of Similarity - This law suggests that similar
things tend to be seen as grouped together. This
can happen when you are hearing or seeing
something.
Law of Pragnanz - This law claims that objects
are seen as their simplest form possible. This
means when we look at something, we process it
in the simplest way we can.
Law of Proximity - This law suggests that things
that are near each other tend to be seen as
grouped together. Object that are close together
are processed as being in a group.
Law of Continuity - This law states that
objects/things that are connected by straight or
curved lines will be seen in the way that follows
the smoothest path. We see the lines as connect
rather than as separate angles or lines.
Law of Closure - This law claims that things that
are grouped together if they look like they might
 form a whole object or concept. This basically
means that our brain fills in gaps when something
is grouped together in a way that could form a
whole idea or concept.

Color Perception
Color perception is our idea of the colors we are
seeing in the scene around us.
1. Trichromatic Theory
Theory that states that humans have 3 color
receptors in their retina, a part of the eye(this
means that each receptor is more sensitive to a
certain color). The colors, it claims, are red,
green and blue. The theory claims that the
receptors are stimulated(given information) in a
specific way to make us see other colors.
2. Opponent-Process Theory
A theory that claims that our ability to perceive is
controlled by 3 receptors using
opposing(opposite) actions. There is,
supposedly, the red-green complex, the blue
yellow complex and the black-white complex.
This theory also states that you can only process
one the complexes colors at a time. For example,
youve never seen greenish red because theyre
opposing.
Depth Perception
Depth perception is the visual(sight) ability to see
things in 3 dimensions or 3D. It is also the ability
to guess how far away an object is.
1. Monocular Cues
The cues(information) that tell you how close or
far away an object is to you. This involves things
like judgement based on the size of the object,
texture of the object, the motion of the object, and
more. This is mainly in one eye.
2. Binocular Cues
The main binocular cue is to make the world 3D.
It helps ups to decide where in space an object
sits in relation to our own body. Unlike monocular
cues, these are taken through both eyes rather
than only one.

Perception of Movement
The ability to adjust yourself with your own and
others physical movements. It helps us to move
efficiently(quickly and easily) and with balance.
Without this ability we would have a lowered
ability to survive.
 1. Stroboscopic Motion
When something is viewed in distinct separate
stages but have an appearance of being in
motion. Its like a bunch of pictures out together
in a flip book and you flip through it quickly and it
looks like its moving.
2. Looming
Looming is when an object is seen as
approaching, or getting closer, when it gets
bigger at a fast pace.
3. Autokinetic Illusion
An illusion(a trick in vision where you see
something not the way it really is) that makes you
see a still object as moving because of light and
no specific area to tell you that the object isnt
moving.
Illusions
Illusion are visual tricks in which you look at
something and see it a certain way but in reality
its not the way you think it is. So you look at
something and see that its moving, but in reality
its completely still. These tricks happen
because of things like: lack of information or
cues, poor lighting or factors beyond a persons
own control. These things cause your mind to try
to fill in the blanks or see things that arent there.
1. Figure-Ground Illusion
This is an illusion where you can look at a
picture, often a vase, and sometimes see the
vase(figure) or other times, you may see 2 faces
in the background(ground). This can often be an
unconscious(doesnt require you the actively
think) event.
2. Color, Angle, Shape Types
Color - These are illusions that trick your eyes
into seeing a picture as two different colors,
maybe one lighter and one darker, when in reality
the image or object in the images is a single
color. This is caused by the eye viewing the
image or object in close order and therefore
seeing the second part of the image or object as
brighter or darker.
Angle - This when your eye changes the way a
line or object looks because of the angle of the
line or object. This can happen when 2 lines are
both the same length but one appears longer
because of something added onto one of the
lines.
Shape - This is when you see an image or object
as a certain shape or as multiple different shapes
when in reality it is a completely different shape
or not multiple shapes.