VISUAL PERCEPTION THEORY

PERCEPTION

Perception
?
PERCEPTION

The process of
recognizing,
and

information
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom up processing
(Gibson, 1966)

Constructive Perception theories

Top down processing
(Gregory, 1970)
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

• Perception comes from the stimuli in the environment
• Parts are identified, put together, and then recognition occurs

o Processing is carried out in one direction from the retina to visual

cortex, with each successive stage in the visual pathway carrying out
ever more complex analysis of the input.

Perception involves Innate mechanisms forged by evolution

THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom Up Processing Theories

•Template theories
•Prototype theories
•Feature theories
•Structural description theories
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom Up Processing Theories

•Template theories  Multiple templates are held in memory
•Prototype theories  To recognize the incoming stimuli, you compare
to templates in memory until a match is found
•Feature theories
•Structural description theories
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom Up Processing Theories

•Template theories  Modification of template matching
(flexible templates)
•Prototype theories
 Takes various instances of an object
•Feature theories and abstracts out the common
•Structural description theories characteristics
 No match is perfect; a criterion for
matching is needed
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom Up Processing Theories

•Template theories • Recognize objects on the basis of a small number
of characteristics (features)
•Prototype theories
 Detect specific elements and assemble them into
•Feature theories more complex forms
•Structural description theories Brain cells that respond to specific features, such
as lines and angles are referred to as “feature
detectors”
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Direct Perception theories

Bottom Up Processing Theories

•Template theories
•Prototype theories
•Feature theories
•Structural description theories

 Describes how 3D images are identified

 Breaks objects down into geons
 Objects are identified by geons and Original Recoverable Non-recoverable
relationship between them
THEORIES OF PERCEPTION

Constructive Perception theories

• People actively construct perceptions using information

based on expectations.
• Past experiences
• Stored knowledge

 Information > eye ---(90% lost)

 Brain > (image)- Hypothesis -past experience
 Sensory receptors receive information from environment, the combined from the past experience
 The formation of incorrect hypothesis will lead to errors of perception (visual illusions)
GESTALT THEORY
GESTALT THEORIES

The term Gestalt means “form” or “configuration”.

GESTALT THEORIES
GESTALT THEORIES

Gestalt psychology- was at the forefront of the cognitive psychology. It served as the
foundation of the cognitive perspective to learning. It considered the mental
processes and products of perception

“It refers to theories of visual perception.

These theories attempt to describe how people tend to organize
visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain
principles are applied.”
GESTALT THEORIES

 The Gestalt or ‘whole form’ theory sought to define the principles of perception.

 These are innate mental laws that determine how we see images.
GESTALT THEORIES
GESTALT THEORIES

SUN

FLOWER
DNA
HAND

BIRD.

HAIR
SAUCES OR SPREADS

RECYCLE
CONTAINER

WAVE
FROZEN
GESTALT THEORIES

GESTALT VIEWS OF PERCEPTION

Basic Tenet
“The whole is more than a sum of its parts.”

Law of Prägnanz
Individuals organize their experience in as simple,
concise, symmetrical and complete manner as possible
GESTALT THEORIES

THE KEY IDEA BEHIND GESTALT THEORY

“The whole is different from the sum of its parts.”- kurt koffa
GESTALT THEORIES

THE KEY IDEA BEHIND GESTALT THEORY

A part in a whole is different from this part in another whole

GESTALT THEORIES

THE KEY IDEA BEHIND GESTALT THEORY

Emergence

Reification

Multi-stability

Invariance
EMERGENCE
Emergence is the process of forming complex patterns from simple rules.

Emergence occurs when the eye views a

group of seemingly meaningless pieces
and comprehends them as a whole.

When attempting to identify an object,

we first seek to identify its outline. We then match this outline
pattern against shapes and objects we already know to find a match. Only
after the whole emerges through this outline pattern matching, do we start
to identify the parts that make up the whole.
EMERGENCE
The emerging aspect of perception from the parts of a whole and not as
individual parts

The dog emerges from the other spots

as a whole and not as individual parts.

Although the black markings in this piece don’t at first

seem to make anything, when viewed as whole, a
Dalmatian is seen.
EMERGENCE
The emerging aspect of perception from the parts of a whole and not as
individual parts

An elephant is emerging from the marks.

REIFICATION
This is the ‘constructive’ aspect of perception, i.e. we draw shapes in our
mind even though there is nothing actually drawn.

Reification is when a shape or form is perceived by the

effects of surrounding images, lines, shapes, or colors.
REIFICATION
This is the ‘constructive’ aspect of perception, i.e. we draw shapes in our
mind even though there is nothing actually drawn.

Reification is when a shape or form is perceived by the

effects of surrounding images, lines, shapes, or colors.
REIFICATION
This is the ‘constructive’ aspect of perception, i.e. we draw shapes in our
mind even though there is nothing actually drawn.

Reification is when a shape or form is perceived by the

effects of surrounding images, lines, shapes, or colors.
MULTI-STABILITY
The tendency for us to see a static image pop back and forth, or for us
to see two images in one alternately.

Multistability is when an object can be seen

as several different things at once.

Necker cube Rubin vase

MULTI-STABILITY
The tendency for us to see a static image pop back and forth, or for us
to see two images in one alternately.

Multistability is when an object can be seen

as several different things at once.

This print by MC Escher seems at first to be a bunch

of white horses. After taking a closer look, one can
see that the white horses put together create the
illusion of a bunch of black horses.
MULTI-STABILITY
The tendency for us to see a static image pop back and forth, or for us
to see two images in one alternately.

Multistability is when an object can be seen

as several different things at once.

Old women or young lady?

INVARIANCE
We recognize simple geometrical objects irrespective of rotation, scale
or translation.
GESTALT PRINCIPLES/Laws

The gestalt principle arises from gestalt theory

GESTALT PRINCIPLES

Similarity

Proximity

Closure

continuity

pragnanz

Symmetry & order

GASTALT PRINCIPLES Figure/ ground
Uniform
connectedness
Common regions
Common fate
(synchrony)
Parallelism

Focal points
SIMILARITY
Items that are similar tend to be grouped together
Objects that look similar will be grouped together by the brain.
SIMILARITY
Items that are similar tend to be grouped together
Objects that look similar will be grouped together by the brain.
SIMILARITY
Items that are similar tend to be grouped together
Objects that look similar will be grouped together by the brain.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
PROXIMITY
The mind groups elements into collective entities depending on their proximity.
Items that are close to each other are perceived as a group.
CLOSURE
We tend to fill the gaps or “close” the figures we perceive. We enclose a
space by completing a contour and ignoring gaps in the figure
CLOSURE
We tend to fill the gaps or “close” the figures we perceive. We enclose a
space by completing a contour and ignoring gaps in the figure
CLOSURE
We tend to fill the gaps or “close” the figures we perceive. We enclose a
space by completing a contour and ignoring gaps in the figure
CLOSURE
We tend to fill the gaps or “close” the figures we perceive. We enclose a
space by completing a contour and ignoring gaps in the figure
CLOSURE
We tend to fill the gaps or “close” the figures we perceive. We enclose a
space by completing a contour and ignoring gaps in the figure
CONTINUITY
Perceptual organization which identifies the human ability to determine
object constancy when the whole object is not completely visible.

Individuals have the tendency to continue contours whenever the elements

or the pattern establish an implied direction.
People tend to draw a good continuation line.
CONTINUITY
Perceptual organization which identifies the human ability to determine
object constancy when the whole object is not completely visible.
CONTINUITY
Perceptual organization which identifies the human ability to determine
object constancy when the whole object is not completely visible.
CONTINUITY
Perceptual organization which identifies the human ability to determine
object constancy when the whole object is not completely visible.

This is an example of the law of continuity in advertising.

The logo contains a break in the lines, which are the S and L
of SportLocker, yet we still follow the smoothest path and
see it as one line curling around the combination wheel.
CONTINUITY
Perceptual organization which identifies the human ability to determine
object constancy when the whole object is not completely visible.
PRAGNANZ
This is the fundamental principle of gestalt. We prefer things that are
simple, clear and ordered. Instinctually these things are safer. They take
less time for us to process and present less dangerous surprises.

You’re more likely to see the left image above composed of the simple circle, square and triangle like you see on
the right than as the complex and ambiguous shape the whole forms.
PRAGNANZ
This is the fundamental principle of gestalt. We prefer things that are
simple, clear and ordered. Instinctually these things are safer. They take
less time for us to process and present less dangerous surprises.

The Olympic rings are seen as five

interlocking rings rather than nine
separate curved-edge shapes
FIGURE/ GROUND
Figure/ground refers to the relationship between positive elements and
negative space.

The idea is that the eye will separate whole figures from their background in order to
understand what’s being seen. It’s one of the first things people will do when looking at any
composition.
CONNECTEDNESS
Elements that are visually connected are perceived as more related than
elements with no connection
COMMON REGIONS
Elements are perceived as part of a group if they are located within the
same closed region.
COMMON FATE
(SYNCHRONY)
Elements that move in the same direction are perceived as more related
than elements that are stationary or that moves in different direction
PARALLELISM
The elements that are parallel to each other are seen as more related than
elements not parallel to each other
FOCAL POINTS
Elements with a point of interest, emphasis or difference will capture and
hold the viewer's attention
EXERCISES