Psychology Chapter on Perception and Processing

Processing information based on incoming sensory data, like recognizing a melody from a song. It's like building a picture from scratch using only the raw ingredients.

Processing information influenced by prior expectations and internal knowledge, like seeing a rabbit shape in a cloud because someone suggested it. It's like adding pre-made ingredients to a dish.

Mental structures that help us organize and interpret information, based on past experiences. For example, a child's schema for a dog could include four legs and a tail.

Expectations that influence our perception of the world. For example, if you expect to see a certain shape in the clouds because someone mentioned it, that's a perceptual set at work.

External factors, like context and cultural background, that shape our perception. For example, a conversation in a loud party feels different than one in a quiet library.

The tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete, filling in the missing parts.

The ability to distinguish objects from their background. It helps us identify what's in focus.

The tendency to group objects that are physically close together.

The tendency to group objects that share similar features, such as color or shape.

Our ability to concentrate on specific information while ignoring distractions. This allows us to focus on what's important.

Failure to notice changes in a scene because we're not paying attention, often due to distractions.

The experience of being able to interpret a single image in multiple ways. It highlights how our brains can change our perception.

Creating a perception of a solid form even when there's no actual outline. Our brain fills in the missing edges.