Test 3 Flashcards
central idea of the gestalt approach
the whole is DIFFERENT than the sum of it’s parts
in other words Gestalt psychology aserts that the brain naturally organizes our experiences in their ENTIRETY rather than parts or pieces
gestalts princeples of grouping
refer to how we NATURALLY group stimuli in our environment toghtether as we make sense of things as a “whole”
list gestalt principles of grouping
- proximity
- similarity
- closure
- figure-ground
- continuity
proximity
The tendency to group objects that are close to one another as part of the same group, distinct from other objects that are further away
similarity
the tendency to view objects that are the same shape colour or size as part of the same group
eg. sports teams distinct jerseys
closure
the tendency to fill in incomplete parts of a line or image and overlook incompleteness
figure-ground
tendency to view one thing as the main object in a scene (figure) and another aspect as the background (ground)
continuity
the tendency to see intersecting objects as a continuous pattern (IE viewing them as single uninterrupted entities) parts heading in the same direction are perceived as a group
eg. streets continue straight through intersections
how does the retina work
The retina tissue on the back of the eye captures light information and sends it towards the brain. However, it turns out that our retina has a “blind spot” we cannot detect any light information that falls in the area of the retina, thus we are actually blind in this one part of each eye.
when necessary, the higher level processes of the brain fill in visual information that the retina missed on, based on surrounding visual information.
X. Y experiment eye fills in the blue paper
Size constancy
whether a familiar object is close to us thus casting a large image on the retina or far away thus casting a small image on the retina, we tend to know the size the object really is in that its size does not change as it moves relative to us.
We don’t get confused when things are further away, your brain can take into account what is close and what is far.
Although the retina may receive an image in which two nearly identical objects differ greatly in size because one is close and one is far, the brain is not fooled! The brain takes into account the relationships that exist between multiple elements (IE size and distance) and reaches a correct conclusion about how big the objects really are (size constancy)
Bechet chair and the ames room show how your mind prefers to think people are literally shrinking than go agaisnt mind consistency
how do images form in the mind
size constancy and the blind spot show that motion and other visual activities much be created by the mind instead of the retina
behaviourism
The approach to psychology called behaviorism stresses that to be a science, psychology must study only that which is observable ie behavior.
- behaviorists didn’t examine mental processes (thoughts emotions perceptions etc.) because they considered these things immune to measurements thus “unknowable”
theory of operant conditioning
The theory of operant conditioning describes that in any particular situation, a chosen behavior is likely to be followed by a reward
if the consequences of the behavior is positive, learning occurs in the Organism will be more likely to choose that particular behavior, in that particular situation, again in the future this is called reinforcement
if by contrast the consequense is negative, the Organism will not learn to repeat the behavior this is called punishment
Skinner
Skinner did very famous experiments on this subject he managed to teach pigeons math music little obstacle courses even ping pong and more all for rewards he did this thanks to the Skinner box a very controlled environment
how do you teach opperant conditonning to creates that have no idea what you want them to do
to teach complex behavior through operant conditioning, we use a technique called shaping in which we reinforce responses that successfully approximate the desired response IE rewards for behaviors that get closer and closer to the behavior that you ultimately want.
oOnce the Organism has achieved one small step towards the ultimate goal rewards are then withheld until a step closer to the desired behavior is reached
Positive reinforcement (+R)
The INTRODUCTION of a PLEASENT stimulus (called a reinforcer) that increases the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.
give treat to dog
Positive punishment (+P)
The INTRODUCTION of an UNPLEASENT stimulus (called a punisher) that decreases the likelihood that a behaviour will be repeated.
choke collar
Negative punishment (-P)
After a behavior a PLEASANT stimulus is REMOVED, we are less likely to repeat the behavior because it results in the loss of something that we’d like.
dog walking nicely when it pulls you stop walking
