Tom is watching Terri walk across the room. According to Gibson, Tom perceives Terri _____.
A) to be moving because her image is moving across his retina
B) to be stationary because the background is stationary
C) to be moving because of a local disturbance in the optic array
D) to be stationary because the background texture is fixed

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Gibson's theory of ecological perception, perception of motion is the result of a disturbance in the optic array. In this case, Terri is perceived to be moving because her movement creates a local disturbance in the optic array, which is what allows Tom to perceive her motion.

Tom Is Watching Terri Walk Across the Room