Gregorys theory

• Gregory's Constructivist Theory of Perception

  Opposite of Gibson's theory

  Gregory's theory proposes we use past experience to make sense of the world around of us
• Perception is a construction

  Brain uses incoming sensory info + info we know about the world

  Perception is therefore a construction
• Inference

  The brain uses sensory information that is available and fills in the gaps.

  Past experience means we infer what should be there and draw a conclusion
• Visual cues

  When making inferences, features of the environment give brain info about depth, distance, etc

  Visual illusions occur because the brain has drawn wrong conclusion from visual cues
• Past experience- role of nurture

  Perception depends on experience

  The more we interact with the world, the more sophisticated our perception becomes
• Strength

  Support from research in different cultures,

  Hudson's study showed experience effects how visual cues are infected,

  Different experiences affect perception- valid
• Weakness

  Based on visual illusions,

  Images designed to fool us,

  Doesn't tell us how perception works in real world- less applicable
• Weakness 2

  Doesn't explain how perception gets started,

  Research shown babies have some perception- prefer human faces to patterns,

  Not all perception is from experience- lacks validity