A researcher conducts a study on visual perception. When viewing a photograph of hospital physicians, participants tend to perceive the physicians as groups based on their attire, such as "blue scrubs" for one group and "white lab coats" for another. This finding is best attributed to which Gestalt principle?

Question

A researcher conducts a study on visual perception.  When viewing a photograph of hospital physicians, participants tend to perceive the physicians as groups based on their attire, such as "blue scrubs" for one group and "white lab coats" for another.  This finding is best attributed to which Gestalt principle?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0d7b_9401_a3bf_5d329300c888_MD0008_00 The Gestalt principles of perceptual organization describe how humans holistically perceive sensory stimuli. Although Gestalt principles apply to many types of sensory stimuli (eg, the grouping of musical tones), they are most often described in the perception of visual stimuli. Similarity is the Gestalt principle that refers to our tendency to group together objects that share similar features (eg, shape, color). In this study, participants group physicians in a photograph by shared visual characteristics (clothing color), which is best attributed to the Gestalt principle of similarity. (Choice A) Common fate is the Gestalt principle that describes our perception that things moving together are grouped together (eg, a flock of birds flying in V-formation is perceived as a unit). The finding does not describe grouping the physicians by the direction they appear to be moving. (Choice B) Proximity is the Gestalt principle that describes our tendency to perceive things that are physically closer to one another as a group (eg, letters that are closer together are grouped as a word). The finding does not describe grouping the physicians based on their physical closeness. (Choice D) Continuity is the Gestalt principle that describes our tendency to perceive elements as continuing on a smooth path (eg, "X" is perceived as two crossing lines, rather than two "V" shapes touching). The finding does not describe perceiving the physicians as being on a continuous path (eg, standing in a curving line). Educational objective: The Gestalt principles of perceptual organization describe how humans holistically perceive sensory stimuli. One example is the similarity principle, in which things that share similar characteristics (eg, shape, color) tend to be grouped together.

A Researcher Conducts a Study on Visual Perception