Chapter 5

Question 1

Define sensation.

Answer 1

What happens when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor

Question 2

Define perception.

Answer 2

Way that sensory information is interpreted and consciously experienced

Question 3

Define inattentional blindness.

Answer 3

Failure to notice something that is completely visible because of a lack of attention

Question 4

Define after-image.

Answer 4

Continuation of a visual sensation after removal of the stimulus

Question 5

Define sensory adaptation.

Answer 5

Not perceiving stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time

Question 6

Define just noticeable difference.

Answer 6

Difference in stimuli required to detect a difference between the stimuli

Question 7

Where does subliminal fall in relation to the absolute threshold?

Answer 7

The absolute threshold is the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for a stimulus to be detected 50% of the time. Subliminal messages are presented below the threshold for conscious awareness, but is still received- just not in a way that we are aware of.

Question 8

What is the vestibular sense responsible for?

Answer 8

Contributes to our ability to maintain balance and body posture

Question 9

What is the general idea behind Gestalt psychology?

Answer 9

That the whole is different than the sum of its parts

Question 10

Define the Gestalt principle: figure-ground relationship.

Answer 10

Segmenting our visual world into figure and ground

Made simple: thinking about things as an object in the foreground and a background

Question 11

Define the Gestalt principle: proximity.

Answer 11

Things that are close to one another tend to be grouped together

Question 12

Define the Gestalt principle: similarity.

Answer 12

Things that are alike tend to be grouped together

Question 13

Define the Gestalt principle: continuity.

Answer 13

We are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines

(Also called good continuation)

Question 14

Define the Gestalt principle: closure.

Answer 14

Organizing our perceptions into complete objects rather than as a series of parts

Question 15

Explain the difference between top-down and bottom-up processing.

Answer 15

Bottom-up processing refers to the fact that perceptions are built from sensory input. On the other hand, how we interpret those sensations is influenced by our available knowledge, our experiences, and our thoughts. This is called top-down processing.

(Example: You walk into a kitchen and smell cinnamon rolls. (bottom-up, sensation) Then you think: “Mmm, this smells like the bread Grandma used to bake when the family gathered for holidays.” (top-down, perception)