Understanding Perception: The Dynamics of Observation, Interpretation, and Context

1. Perception

2. Perception is a passive and relatively straightforward process which gives us an accurate picture of reality. The act of observation does not affect what is observed. Sensation + Interpretation ______________ Perception

7. Context

14. Figure & Ground

15. We tend to highlight certain aspects of what we see (figure), and treat other parts of it as background (ground)

18. Visual grouping

20. We have a natural tendency to look for meaning in what we see and to group our perceptual experiences together into shapes and patterns

21. Expectations

27. CAN YOU READ THIS? Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at CmabrigdeUinervtisy, it deosn’tmttaer in what oredt the ltteers in a word are; the olnyiprmoetnttihng is that the frist and lsatltteer be at the rghitpclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can still raed it wouthitporbelm. This is bcuseae the huamnmniddeos not raederveylteterbyistlef but the word as a wlohe.

28. Selectivity

29. A vast amount of data is constantly flooding in to our senses, and our minds would overload if we were consciously aware of everything. We only notice some things in our perceptual field and overlook others. Intensity + Contrast ______________ Noticing

31. What’s a tree?

32. What’s a tree as seen by… … a biologist? … a logger? …Greenpeace? … a native American? … a paper company? … a poet? … a construction company?

33. Awareness

37. We may misinterpret what we see. We may fail to notice something. We may misremember what we have seen.

39. Where is the pain?