Sensation and perception, two related fields of study in psychology. Sensation is the power to receive information from your surroundings through your senses. Perceptual con- stancies is the ability to filter and organize all the information taken in by our senses. Shape constancy gives us the ability to realize the shape of an object does not change when the angle of vision changes. Size constancy is the realization that an objects size does not change reg- ardless of the distance from you. Another type organizational stategy is figure-ground.
This is the ability to distinguish the back-ground from the object of focus. With these organizational stategies, questions arise pertaining to the extent and origin of these abilities. Is our ability to perceive figure-ground relationships present from birth, or are they tought to us in our learn- Mr Turnbull, an anthropologist, answered these questions in the late 1950s and early 1960s. While observing the BaMbuti Pygmies, in the Ituri Forest in the Congo, (their natural setting), he came across a young man named Kenge. His entire life, Kenge had lived in the thick jungle of the Congo. He had never had a chance to use figure-ground strategies, size constancies, or to judge distances.
Turnbull took Kenge to a clearing to see the Ruwenzori Mountains. Having never seen a veiw from a great distance, Kenge was speechless. He thought the mountains were rock formations. Turbbull proceded to take Kenge to the moun- tains to get his reactions as to the size of them. While leaving the mountain Kenge saw a herd of buffalo grazing in a feild a few miles away. He thought the buffalo were insects.
The Research paper on Household Size Data Annual Regression
This case study included information on a sample of fifty credit card accounts. This information, table one, included household size, annual income, and the amount charged to the account. Scatter plots of the data were produced. Figure one shows household size vs. amount charged. This graph shows that the positive linear relationship of the data is somewhat strong. The r squared is 0. 56, ...
The buf- falo, being so far away, were mistaken for beetles or ants. Turnbull then took Kenge to the grazing buffalo, to show him the true size of the animals. As they approached the herd, Kenge was afraid. He thought this was witchcraft or magic, making the animals increase in size. Once Kenge saw the actuall size of the animals he was no longer afraid, but still skeptical. Turnbull then took Kenge to a large lake, to help him get a better understanding of percep- tual constancies.
While at the lake, Kenge thought a fishing boat was a piece of wood. He could not believe it was large enough to carry several people. Turnbull had to remind him of the buffalo. Kenge was adapting to new sensations. In Turnbull’s observations he was having to teach Kenge depth perception and size constancy. This observation is of upmost importance to psychological studies.
Even though this information was taken in 1960 it is still of importance today. It is not often there is a chance to observe adults that have never had perceptual stimuli. Research of this nature is a rare opp- ortunity and very informative. By utillizing this type of research we get a better understanding of figure-ground relationships. How our perceptual skills adapt to our environmental survival potential. Certain perceptual skills may be necessary for our survival.
Reaction to depth per- Therefore, our perceptual abilities are learned rather than instinct. Although the abilities are with us from birth, we have to be tought how to translate perceptual information.This type of research will be pursued on into the future.
