Laws of Perception

Laws of Perception

Rules of Perceptual Organization

Closure- when objects that are grouped together are viewed as a whole

Example:

  

Because of closure, we view the figures to the left as a circle and a square. If closure did not exist, we would merely see lines of different sizes and bends instead of the complete shapes our mind creates for us.

Picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology#mediaviewer/File:Gestalt_closure.svg

Proximity- when we group together nearby objects

Example:

In this example, the circles are viewed in three groups, a group where the circles appear to be grouped in a three by four square, a group where they appear as three horizontal rows of four, and a group where they are separated into two separate two by three blocks.

Picture from: http://cct370-w07.wikispaces.com/Gestalt+(Properties+and+Laws)

Similarity- items that are similar tend to be grouped together

Example:

As a result of similarity, we view the image to the left as six rows of six squares, where the black squares and the white squares are grouped together

Picture from: http://www.users.totalise.co.uk/~kbroom/Lectures/gestalt.htm

Continuity- when we group objects that are aligned with other objects together

Example:

The circles to the left are viewed as two lines of circles, a red line and a black line, as a result of continuity

Picture from: http://sites.psu.edu/psych256fa14/2014/09/14/gestalt-laws-of-perceptual-organization/

Figure-Ground Perception- the tendency to view an image by an object we are looking for and its background

Example:

With this picture, you could either see Batman watching over a city or a picture of the Joker's face. As you look for both of these, you are processing which part of the image is the foreground and which part is the background. This comes as a result of figure-ground perception.

Picture from: http://www.pinterest.com/ianstrasser7/figureground/

Binocular Cue

Interposition- when one object overlaps another, allowing us to perceive depth

Example:

In this example, the green object appears closer than the red object. We view both objects as triangles, which would mean the green triangle is overlapping the red one. Because of interposition, the green one would seem closer

Picture from: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/interposition-in-psychology-definition-lesson-quiz.html#lesson