PERCEPTION
DR. ISHA TRIVEDI
MPT CARDIO-PULMONARY
MA CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
DNHE
INTRODUCTION
• Perception is the interpretation of sensory stimuli, which reach the sense organs and brain.
• Interpretation gives meaning to sensation and we become aware of objects.
• Perception is the process by which we discriminate among stimuli and interpret their meanings and appreciate
their significance. E.g.—When we hear a sound, we are able to identify it as being produced by an aeroplane
or an automobile.
• Perception gives meaning to sensation.
• Perception → Sensation + Interpretation
• Human beings have perceptions corresponding to each sense organs visual perception, auditory perception,
etc.
PRINCIPLES OF PERCEPTION
1. Proximity or Nearness
• Objects or figures, which are close to each other, will form a unit or pattern.
We see three sets of two lines each and not six separate lines
2. Similarity
• Objects or figures which are similar in shape or forms, though mixed up with other things we will have the
tendency of perceiving them together in form of a unit or pattern.
3. Symmetry and Closure
• Items that form symmetrical units are grouped together.
We see 3 sets of brackets, Items are perceived as complete
we don’t units even though they
see 6 uncorrected lines may be interrupted by gaps.
4. Inclusiveness
• Sometimes due to past experience or training objects which are similar or not, close together or not, if they
are in place, they will have the tendency to form a unit and do not appear separate.
5. Continuity
• Continuous lines or dots irrespective of shape or size or colour will form a unit. In the figure, the dots will
form a vertical plane will form a vertical line and horizontal plane will form a horizontal line. Together they
form horizontal-vertical.
We see a curved line and a straight line and we do not see a line with small circles above and below it
6. Familiarity or Past Experience
• From a mass of dots or lines, a familiar pattern or figure stands out more easily than other figure. This
depends on past experience.
7. Figure Ground Relationship
• The perception is made against a background.
• The formation of the figure mostly depends upon the more advantageous shape or colour of some part of field
of awareness. So in every perception, there is figure and ground relationship.
• The figure, which emerges from a background, may become a background for some other figure, e.g.—(1)
Smile on the face, (2) Paintings, (3) Mother figure for a child.
FACTORS AFFECTING PERCEPTION
Values and interests
Sense organs
Brain functions
Past experience
Attitude (mood)
Motives
Beliefs
Emotions
ERRORS OR ABNORMALITIES IN
PERCEPTION
1. Illusion
• It is wrong or false perception because of wrong interpretation of stimuli.
• Illusion is a normal and universal phenomenon unlike hallucination.
• For example,
I. A rope in the dark is perceived as a snake.
II. A moving dry leaf in the dark is perceived as a moving insect.
III. Illusion of motion picture on the screen.
IV. Judging the taste of lemon juice as that of orange juice is gustatory illusion.
2. Horizontal-Vertical illusion:
• The vertical line drawn from mid point to the horizontal line. Though the two lines are equal in length, the
vertical line looks longer than the horizontal line.
• This is because of the movement of the eyes along the vertical line.
3. Muller-Lyre illusion:
• The line X looks longer than line Y.
• This is because of the line Y has arrowhead which is enclosed whereas X is with featherhead which looks more
open.
• This is called as Muller-Lyre illusion, which emphasizes open figure looks longer or larger than the enclosed
area.
X and Y are identical in length
4. Illusion of movement (Phi-phenomenon):
• What we see in cinema is not the real movement.
• But a series of still pictures projected on the screen at a particular speed, i.e. 20-25 pictures per second.
• This perception of apparent movement is due to primitive organization of perception.
• Phi phenomenon apparatus in the laboratory can demonstrate this illusion of movement.
• The apparatus has 2 lights.
• The distance between them can be adjusted as required.
• In front of light there is a milky glass screen.
• The rate of on and off lengths can be regulated.
• They can be made to go on and off alternatively at a particular speed.
• We perceive it as one light moving.
5. Hallucination
• This is an extreme form of inaccurate, abnormal false perception of stimulus, which does not exist in the
environment. For example,
1) Perceiving a snake in the absence of a rope
2) Seeing ghost in the dark
3) Seeing god
• Only those who are mentally sick or emotionally maladjusted feel hallucination.
• It takes place because of inner fear, anxiety or conflict.
• It uses images instead of stimulus.
• Hallucination can be visual, auditory, gustatory, olfactory and cutaneous.
THE END
