When you stand to the side of a window frame, it casts a trapezoidal (nonrectangular) image on your retina. It still seems rectangular to you, though, because of ________.
A) the phi phenomenon
B) figure-ground constancy
C) shape constancy
D) size constancy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shape constancy allows us to perceive shapes as remaining the same even when their orientation or position changes. In this case, we know that the window frame itself is rectangular, so our brain compensates for the trapezoidal image on our retina and perceives the window frame as still being rectangular. The phi phenomenon is related to the perception of motion, figure-ground constancy relates to the ability to distinguish an object from the background, and size constancy refers to the ability to perceive the true size of an object despite changes in its distance from us.

When You Stand to the Side of a Window Frame