Question 1

According to one important perceptual principle, when we look at a scene we automatically tend to separate the elements of that scene into an object and its background. This principleis called:

Accepted Answer

The principle described in the question refers to the figure-ground relationship, where we automatically perceive objects as being separate from the background. Perceptual constancy refers to the ability to perceive objects as maintaining their properties even when viewed from different angles or in different lighting conditions. The law of closure refers to our tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete, and the law of similarity refers to our tendency to group similar objects together.

Question 2

The law of Prägnanz refers to the fact that:

Accepted Answer

The law of Prägnanz, also known as the law of simplicity, states that we tend to interpret ambiguous figures in the simplest and most efficient way. This means that we perceive the figures in a way that requires the least cognitive effort or processing. This principle is also related to the idea of Gestalt psychology, which emphasizes holistic processing and how we perceive wholes rather than just individual parts.

Question 3

The tendency to group objects that are close to one another asa single unit is called the:

Accepted Answer

The law of proximity states that objects that are close to one another are perceived as a single unit. This principle helps us organize and make sense of visual information in our environment.

Question 4

Feedback from the muscles of the eye can help us judge the distance of an object, because the lens of the eye thickens when we change our focus from a distant object to a nearby object.This visual cue is called:

Accepted Answer

The visual cue described in the question is accommodation, which happens when the ciliary muscles in the eye contract, causing the lens to thicken and focus on a nearby object. This feedback from the muscles of the eye helps us judge the distance of an object. The other visual cues mentioned (relative size, linear perspective, motion parallax) do not directly relate to the focusing of the lens.

Question 5

The letters on the flashing neon sign actually read: CPENFOR BUSINESS! But because of the law of _____, Joe never noticed that part of one neon letter was burned out and perceived it as reading: OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

Accepted Answer

The law of closure is a Gestalt principle that explains how people tend to perceive incomplete figures as complete. In this case, Joe's mind fills in the missing part of the letter to perceive it as "OPEN FOR BUSINESS" despite the incomplete neon sign.

Question 6

Two identical model cars are parked at the far end of the parking lot. You are able to determine that one of the cars is closer to you than the other because it appears to be slightly larger, even though you know it is the same size as the other.This is an example of which perceptual cue?

Accepted Answer

The perceptual cue at play here is relative size, which refers to the tendency to perceive objects that are farther away as smaller than objects that are closer, even if they are the same size. In this case, one of the cars appears slightly larger, which cues our brain to interpret it as being closer to us. This is a common experience when looking at distant objects, where the relative size of objects helps us to determine their distance from us.

Question 7

Because of the law of _____, you perceive the following as three groups of dots.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Accepted Answer

The law of proximity states that objects that are close together are perceived as a group, which is why you perceive the dots as three groups rather than individual dots.

Question 8

Looking out the window, you perceive a tree in front of a car.Even though the tree interrupts your visual image of the car,you still perceive the car to be a solid shape, not split where the tree blocks your view of it. This is an example of the:

Accepted Answer

The law of closure states that when we perceive an object, we tend to perceive it as a whole, even if it is incomplete or partially obscured. In this scenario, even though the tree interrupts the visual image of the car, we still perceive the car as a solid shape because our brains fill in the missing pieces and perceive the car as a whole object.

Question 9

At the corner of Lisa's desk is one of her favorite seashells. If you looked at Lisa's desk, you would tend to perceive the seashell as _____, and her desk as _____.

Accepted Answer

According to the Gestalt principles of perception, when we look at a scene, we tend to perceive the objects within it as either figure or ground. The figure is the object or objects that are the focus of our attention, while the ground is the background against which the figure appears. In this case, the seashell is the figure and the desk is the ground. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer. Choice A is incorrect because there is no indication in the question that the seashell is moving. Choice C is incorrect because there is no indication that the size of the objects is being perceived differently. Choice D is incorrect because the seashell, as the object of focus or attention, is the figure, not the ground.

Question 10

The ability to accurately gauge the distance of the coffee cupon your desk as you reach for it is called:

Accepted Answer

Depth perception is the ability to perceive the distance of objects in three dimensions, and accurately reaching for a coffee cup on a desk requires depth perception. Motion parallax refers to the perceived difference in the motion of nearby and distant objects as an observer moves their head, and biofeedback is a technique used to control bodily functions using feedback from physiological measurements. Accommodation refers to the ability of the lens in the eye to change shape to adjust focus on different distances. While it is involved in depth perception, it is not the term used to describe the ability to gauge the distance of an object when reaching for it.

Question 11

You notice a red car and a white car parked next to each other in a parking lot. You perceive the red car as being closer toyou because it blocks part of the image of the white car. This isan example of which perceptual cue?

Accepted Answer

Overlap (or interposition) is the perceptual cue where one object blocks part of the view of another object, causing us to perceive the first object as being closer. This is exactly what is happening in this scenario where the red car is blocking part of the white car. Motion parallax refers to the perception of objects appearing to move at different speeds depending on their distance from the viewer, linear perspective refers to the perception of parallel lines converging in the distance, and aerial perspective refers to the perception of distant objects appearing less sharp and less colorful.

Question 12

In the classic faces/vase drawing, you can see both the face sand the vase if you are able to reverse the _____ relationship.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for this phenomenon is figure-ground reversal, which involves being able to perceive both the figure (the face) and the ground (the vase) by switching between them. The other options (induced motion, relative size, and texture gradient) are not relevant to this particular drawing.

Question 13

When Arnie was sent to Afghanistan for military duty, he was issued a special camouflage uniform so that he would not be as readily visible against the rocky desert landscape. Camouflageis one application of the perceptual principle called:

Accepted Answer

The figure-ground relationship principle refers to the perception of a figure (or object) standing out from its background, which is exactly what camouflage aims to disrupt. The camouflaged uniform changes the relationship between the person and the surrounding environment, making it harder to perceive the person as a distinct figure against the background. Therefore, the correct answer is D, figure-ground relationship.

Question 14

We tend to use _____ when grouping elements together to arrive at the perception of figures, forms, and shapes.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt principles of organization refer to how our brain processes and organizes visual information, including how we group elements together to create a perception of figures, forms, and shapes. The other answer choices do not directly relate to this concept.

Question 15

If you look at a faraway street sign with first your left eye and then your right eye, the images look virtually identical. But ifyou look at your finger held just in front of your nose one eyeat a time, the two images look very different. This phenomenon is an example of which distance cue?

Accepted Answer

Binocular disparity refers to the difference in images between the two eyes due to their different positions on the head. This disparity is more noticeable for objects that are close, like a finger in front of the nose, than for distant objects, like a faraway street sign.

Question 16

From the third floor, you look down at the sidewalk crowded with students walking between buildings. Because of the law of_____, you perceive the students walking in each direction on the sidewalk as separate units.

Accepted Answer

The answer of From the third floor, you look down...

Question 17

Distance cues that require the use of only one eye are called_____ cues.

Accepted Answer

Monocular cues are visual cues that can be perceived with one eye only. This includes cues such as perspective, overlap, texture gradient, and size. These cues provide depth information for objects that are far away or too small to be perceived by both eyes. Kinesthetic cues refer to cues from the body's movements and position, binocular cues require the use of both eyes, and vestibular cues refer to cues from the inner ear about balance and spatial orientation.

Question 18

Because of the law of _____, you perceive the following as two groups of Os that are separated by a group of dashes.OOOOOOOOOO----------OOOOOOOOOO

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because of the law of _____, you...

Question 19

We tend to interpret visual stimuli in the way that produces the best, simplest, and most stable possible shape. This tendency is called _____, and the Gestalt psychologists believed that this law encompassed all the other Gestalt principles.

Accepted Answer

The law described in the question is the law of Prägnanz, also known as the law of simplicity, which states that we tend to perceive objects in the simplest way possible. This law is considered to be the overarching principle of all Gestalt principles. Dunker's law refers to the influence of context on perception, while Weber's law describes the relationship between stimulus intensity and our ability to detect changes in that intensity. The Müller-Lyer illusion is a specific type of perceptual illusion.

Question 20

The ability to perceive the three dimensions of an object, along with its distance from you, is called:

Accepted Answer

Depth perception is the ability to perceive the three dimensions of an object, along with its distance from you. Texture gradient refers to the progressive reduction of detail that occurs as an object moves further away, while linear parallax refers to the apparent shift in position of objects when viewed from different angles. Relative perception is not a commonly used term in psychology or perception research.

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception