Visual perception is a paradox.
On the one hand, we have remarkably stable perceptions despite the rapid and bizarre changes in our retinal image.
On the other hand, our perceptions can be flawed. Sometimes the rules that normally allow us to view the world quite accurately lead us to make perceptual errors. For instance, we assume that the Ames Room is square and regular in shape and this leads us to perceive the two people at opposite corners as a giant and a midget. We know the perception is wrong. But the illusion is unavoidable. You can watch Phillip Zimbardo’s video explanation of this illusion at this link.
To find out more about visual perception, try these links and pages on this blog:
A simple test of your blind spot (recommended by Dewansh)
Last year’s students – their visual stimuli for the first outcome
Introduction to visual perception
A brief introduction to visual illusions and other perceptual phenomena
We hope you enjoy this topic and occasionally catch yourselves in the act of perceiving.
Kind regards,
Ms Green and Ms Bottrell
