The document discusses perceptual set, which refers to the predisposition to perceive stimuli based on our expectations. Perceptual set can enhance or mislead visual perception. It is influenced by context, past experiences, motivation, emotional state, and cultural factors. The document also discusses distortions of visual perception such as illusions. Illusions demonstrate how reality can be misperceived, such as when perceptual cues conflict (perceptual compromise) or with ambiguous/impossible figures.

1. INTERPRETATION IN VISUAL PERCEPTION

2. PERCEPTUAL SET
The predisposition / readiness to perceive stimuli in
line with our expectations, ignoring other stimuli or
other possible interpretations.
Perceptual Set = Expectancy
Various psychological factors create an EXPECTATION to
organise &/or interpret information in a particular way.
Turn to page 125 in your text and complete the simple activity

3. PERCEPTUAL SET
Perceptual set can:
ENHANCE visual perception by correctly anticipating a stimulus
hence interpreting it more quickly
Lead to MISINTERPRETATION of a stimulus by incorrect
anticipation or expectation
Perceptual set can be influenced by:
Context
Past Experience
Motivation
Emotional state
Cultural factors

4. Perceptual Set
CONTEXT
∗ The setting in which the stimulus occurs.
∗ The physical circumstances or surroundings in which the
observed event or object occurs.
∗ The same behaviour or same event may be perceived
differently depending on the circumstances in which it
occurs.
∗ If we always see information in a particular
context, this can create an expectancy that it
will never be seen in another context.

5. Perceptual Set
PAST EXPERIENCE
 The personal experiences we have
experienced throughout our lives.
 These experiences are subjective (they are
interpreted in very personal ways).
 The subjective interpretations are due to the
individual’s intellectual capacity, personality
traits, upbringing, attitudes & values.
 Every individual has a unique combination of
past experiences, hence leading to individual
differences in perception.

6. Perceptual Set
MOTIVATION
∗ Relates to activating behaviour that is directed
towards achieving a particular goal.
∗ They can be influenced by physiological factors
(bodily functions eg. hunger) or psychological
factors (interests or ambitions).

7. Perceptual Set
EMOTIONAL STATE
∗ How we are feeling can influence the way in
which we perceive visual information

8. Perceptual Set
CULTURAL FACTORS
∗ Refer to the way of life of a particular community or group
that sets it apart from other communitites and groups.
(customs, traditions beliefs, attitudes, rules about right and
wrong)
∗ Eg. remote tribal community – not understanding a
photograph

9. Distortions of Visual Perception
 Distortions or mistakes in visual perception sometimes occur.
 Visual illusions demonstrate cases in which reality is misperceived.
 VISUAL ILLUSION: a misinterpretation of real sensory stimuli; there is a
mismatch between our perception and what we understand as physical
reality.
 PERCEPTUAL COMPROMISE: occurs when two or more visual cues
conflict with each other when we are interpreting visual information,
hence leading us to make a ‘compromise’ and settling on an
interpretation that makes the ‘best sense’.

10. Illusions
Muller-Lyer Illusion
Perceptual Compromise  we compromise the
information about the length of the horizontal lines and
the length of each whole figure.

11. Ames Room Illusion
– Apparent depth or distance theory
• Use of ONLY monocular cues,
binocular cues are prevented
from being used
– Perceived size of the people in the
room is determined by the image
cast on the retina
– We are tend to maintain shape
constancy at the expense of size
constancy

12. Other Illusions
∗ AMBIGUOUS FIGURES
∗ A visual stimulus that can be perceived in more
than one way, with each different perception being
equally accurate.
∗ The differing interpretations of the stimulus occur
with shifts in attention and how we perceive the
contour.

13. IMPOSSIBLE FIGURES
A visual stimulus object that produces
conflicting interpretations and is perceived on a
2-dimensional surface as being impossible in the
real world (3-dimensional)