Question 1

Continuity is the tendency to __________.

Accepted Answer

Continuity refers to the tendency to perceive things with a continuous pattern rather than with a complex, broken-up pattern. This means that when presented with visual elements that could be grouped in multiple ways, we tend to perceive them as belonging to the same group if they form a continuous pattern.

Question 2

The tendency to perceive things with a continuous pattern rather than with a complex, broken-up pattern is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Continuity refers to the tendency to perceive things as continuous and smooth rather than complex and fragmented. This principle of perceptual organization helps us perceive objects as unified wholes even when they are comprised of multiple parts or elements. The other options (proximity, contiguity, and common region) are also principles of perceptual organization but do not directly relate to the tendency to perceive things with a continuous pattern.

Question 3

The tendency to perceive objects that are close to each other as part of the same grouping is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

The principle of proximity states that objects that are close together are more likely to be perceived as a group.

Question 4

The tendency to interpret an object as always having the same physical dimensions, regardless of its distance from the viewer, is known as __________ constancy.

Accepted Answer

Size constancy refers to the perception of an object's size remaining the same even if it appears to change in size due to variations in viewing distance.

Question 5

Contiguity is the tendency to perceive __________.

Accepted Answer

Contiguity refers to the perception of two events occurring close together in time as being related.

Question 6

Figure-ground relationships concern the tendency to __________.

Accepted Answer

Figure-ground relationships refer to the perceptual process of distinguishing objects, or figures, from their background. This is an important component of visual perception and allows us to make sense of complex visual scenes.

Question 7

The tendency to perceive two things that happen close together in time as being related is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Contiguity refers to the temporal relationship between two events, and the tendency to perceive them as being causally related simply because they occur close together in time.

Question 8

The tendency to complete figures that are incomplete is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Closure is the tendency to complete figures that are incomplete. The figure-ground relationship refers to the perception of an object in contrast to its surrounding area, while similarity and continuity are principles of organization in Gestalt psychology.

Question 9

Similarity is the tendency to perceive __________.

Accepted Answer

Similarity refers to our tendency to group similar objects together and perceive them as part of the same group. This is a fundamental principle of Gestalt psychology, which is concerned with how we organize visual information into meaningful patterns and structures. By grouping similar objects together, we are able to make sense of complex visual environments and identify patterns and relationships between different elements.

Question 10

The tendency to perceive objects, or figures, on a background is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Figure-ground perception involves the ability to distinguish an object or figure from its surrounding background. This is often achieved through the use of principles such as contrast, size, and orientation. Closure refers to the tendency to perceive incomplete or fragmented visual stimuli as complete objects. Similarity and proximity are other principles of perception that involve grouping elements based on similarities in shape or proximity to one another.

Question 11

A piece of paper looks white in both the noonday sun and under moonlight, even though there is less light being reflected off the paper under moonlight. This form of perceptual constancy is called __________ constancy.

Accepted Answer

Brightness constancy refers to the ability of our eyes and brain to perceive an object as having a constant color and level of brightness even as lighting conditions change. This is why a piece of white paper appears to have the same level of brightness in both the noonday sun and under moonlight, even though the amount of light reflecting off the paper is significantly less under moonlight.

Question 12

Figure is to ground as __________.

Accepted Answer

Figure is the main object in focus, while ground refers to the background or surroundings. Similarly, objects are what we focus on, while the background is the ground against which they are displayed.

Question 13

Closure is the tendency to __________.

Accepted Answer

Closure refers to the ability of our brain to fill in missing information and complete figures that are incomplete. This means that even if we only see part of an object, we can use context and past experience to perceive it as a whole.

Question 14

Which of the following organizations uses the figure-ground effect as part of its members' clothing?

Accepted Answer

The army uses the figure-ground effect in its camouflage uniforms to help soldiers blend into their surroundings by disrupting the visual figure-ground perception, making it harder for the observer to distinguish them from the background.

Question 15

You will likely see "XXX XXX XXX" as three groups of "X" rather than one group of nine "X"s. This example illustrates which of the following Gestalt laws?

Accepted Answer

The proximity principle states that objects that are near to each other tend to be grouped together in our minds. In this example, the three groups of X's are near to each other and thus grouped together in our minds.

Question 16

The tendency to perceive things that resemble each other as being part of the same group is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

This describes the Gestalt principle of similarity, which states that we tend to group together objects that are similar in appearance.

Question 17

Suppose your town is located in a valley. Obviously, you'll realize that the size of your town doesn't change regardless of whether you look at it up close or from a hilltop. This is primarily due to __________.

Accepted Answer

Size constancy refers to the brain's ability to perceive the size of an object as constant, even when the size of the image on the retina changes. In the case of the town in a valley, regardless of whether we view it up close or from a hilltop, its true size remains constant in our perception due to size constancy. Color constancy refers to the ability to perceive colors as stable even under changing lighting conditions, and is not relevant to the scenario described. Retinal disparity and stereopsis refer to the brain's ability to perceive depth and three-dimensional space, and are also not relevant to the scenario described.

Question 18

Suppose you look at a given figure and decide that, depending on how you look at it, it can be perceived as either an old woman or a young lady. Such a figure would be said to be __________.

Accepted Answer

The figure can be perceived in two different ways, or reversed, depending on the viewer's perspective, so it is reversible. Choices A and D do not accurately describe the figure, and choice B is somewhat subjective and judgmental.

Question 19

The Gestalt principle of proximity is the tendency to __________.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt principle of proximity states that objects that are close to each other are perceived as part of the same grouping.

Question 20

A student takes a drug that distorts perception. He holds up his hand right in front of his face. Horrified, he yells, "I have a giant hand!" Most likely the drug interfered with __________ constancy.

Accepted Answer

The drug most likely interfered with size constancy, which is the ability to perceive the size of an object accurately regardless of its distance from the observer. Therefore, the student perceived their hand as giant even though it was only close to their face. This distortion of perception is consistent with the effects of drugs that alter depth perception.

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception