Visual constancy: n. the ability to recognize objects even as their size, shape, color, or orientation change
Visual constancy is our ability to perceive that an object remains the same, even when the object projects different images onto our retinas in our eyes. There are different types of visual constancy, for example shape, color, size, brightness and location constancy. The illustration above demonstrates color constancy; despite the varying shades of orange, yellow and green that we see in each picture, we perceive the bowls of fruit to be the equal. This is because our brain interprets color relative to other objects.
References:
- Kalat, J. W. (2011). Introduction to Psychology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Publishing.
- Pediatric Division Development Center of Gwinnett. (2013). Visual Perceptual Processing. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from: http://www.visiontherapy4kids.com/ContentPage.aspx?id=52.
- SparkNotes LLC. (2013). Sensation and Perception: Vision. Retrieved February 15, 2013, from SparkNotes's website: http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/sensation/section2.rhtml.
Photo Credits:
- http://www.psypress.co.uk/mather/resources/jpg/Image12_1.jpg
- http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/morris4/chapter3/medialib/summary/SMO130FA.GIF
- http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/4831420198_0312c079b2.jpg