Visual constancy: n. the ability to recognize objects even as their size, shape, color, or orientation change
Visual constancy is one of many forms of perceptual constancy. It helps us make sense of what we see in the world around us.
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.
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.
Similarly, size constancy is the ability to perceive objects as the same size although the images projected to us differ in size. Size constancy allows us to understand that a person walking into the distance stays the same height, and doesn't "shrink" within our view frame.
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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