Dire Dawa University

College of Social Sciences and Humanities

Section 4

Assignment
for the course

General Psychology (PsyL-1011)

Course Instructor:
Wondu Teshome (Ass. Professor)

By:
1. Eyuel Getachew H/Giorgis
2. Shimeles Beshir
3. Desalegne Besha
4. Tigist Shiferaw
5. Getaneh Wendosen
I. Discuss the natures of sensation and the sense organ.

Nature of Sensation and Sense Organs:

• Sensation refers to the activation of our sense organs by external stimuli. These stimuli
can be physical energy such as light, sound, pressure, or chemicals.

• Sense organs are specialized structures that allow us to perceive the world around us.
They collect sensory information and transmit it to the brain for interpretation.

• We have five primary sense organs:

o Eyes: Responsible for vision (sight).

o Ears: Involved in hearing (audioception).

o Nose: Associated with smell (olfactory perception).

o Tongue: Enables taste (gustatory perception).

o Skin: Detects touch, pressure, temperature, and pain (somatosensory perception).

• These sense organs contain receptors that relay information through sensory neurons to
the nervous system. Receptors can be classified as general (found throughout the body)
or special (such as photoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and mechanoreceptors)

• The sense organs work together to provide us with a comprehensive understanding of our
surroundings. They allow us to perceive and interact with the world around us, helping us to
navigate our environment, communicate with others, and make decisions based on the
information we receive.

Overall, sensation and the sense organs play a crucial role in our everyday lives, shaping our
perceptions and experiences of the world. They allow us to experience the richness of our
environment and respond to stimuli in ways that are essential for our survival and well-being.
II. Explain the role of genetics and environment on our
senses.

-Genetics and environment both play significant roles in shaping our senses. Our genetic makeup
determines the basic structure and function of our sensory organs, such as the eyes, ears, nose,
tongue, and skin. Genetic variations can influence the sensitivity of these organs to stimuli and
affect how we perceive and interpret sensory information.

On the other hand, the environment also has a major impact on our senses. Our sensory
experiences are shaped by the stimuli we encounter in our surroundings, such as light, sound,
temperature, taste, and smell. Environmental factors can influence the development and
refinement of our sensory abilities through exposure to different sensory stimuli and experiences.

Additionally, the interaction between genetics and the environment is important in determining
how our senses develop and function. For example, genetic predispositions may make individuals
more or less sensitive to certain stimuli, but environmental factors can also influence how these
sensitivities manifest over time.

Overall, genetics and environment both contribute to the complexity of our sensory experiences
and play important roles in shaping how we perceive and interact with the world around us.
III. Explain the laws of perceptual organization.

Developed by German psychologists, the Gestalt principles describe how we interpret the complex
world around us. These principles explain why we perceive patterns and organize sensory
information. The main laws of perceptual organization include:

1. Law of Proximity: This law states that objects that are close to each other are perceived as
belonging together. When elements are close to each other, we tend to perceive them as a group
rather than as separate entities.

2. Law of Similarity: According to this law, objects that are similar in shape, size, color, or
orientation are perceived as belonging together. We tend to group similar elements together and
perceive them as part of the same object or pattern.

3. Law of Closure: This law suggests that our brains tend to fill in missing information or gaps in a
visual stimulus to perceive a complete and whole figure. Even if parts of an object are missing or
obscured, we still perceive it as a complete form.

4. Law of Continuity: The law of continuity states that our brains prefer smooth and continuous
lines or patterns over discontinuous ones. When presented with a series of intersecting lines or
shapes, we tend to perceive them as continuous and flowing rather than as separate elements.

5. Law of Common Fate: According to this law, objects that move in the same direction or at the
same speed are perceived as belonging together. When elements share a common motion, we
perceive them as part of a unified group.

6. Law of Figure-Ground: This law refers to the tendency to perceive objects as either figures (the
main objects of focus) or grounds (the background against which the figures stand). Our brains
automatically separate objects from their background to create a clear and distinct perception.

These laws of perceptual organization help us make sense of the complex and ambiguous sensory
information we encounter in our environment. By organizing and interpreting this information
according to these principles, we are able to create meaningful perceptions of the world around us.
IV. List and discuss the types of perceptual constancies.

Perceptual constancies are the ability of our brains to perceive objects as having consistent
properties, such as size, shape, color, and brightness, even when they appear differently in
different contexts. There are several types of perceptual constancies that play a crucial role in how
we perceive and make sense of the world around us:

1. Size constancy: Size constancy refers to our ability to perceive the size of an object as constant,
regardless of its distance from us. For example, even if a person appears smaller in the distance,
we still perceive them as being the same size because our brain adjusts for the distance.

2. Shape constancy: Shape constancy is the ability to perceive the shape of an object as constant,
even when it is viewed from different angles. For example, we can recognize a door as rectangular
whether it is open or closed because our brain maintains the perception of its shape.

3. Color constancy: Color constancy allows us to perceive the color of an object as constant
under different lighting conditions. For instance, a red apple will still appear red whether it is in
bright sunlight or under dim indoor lighting.

4. Brightness constancy: Brightness constancy refers to our ability to perceive the brightness of
an object as constant, regardless of the amount of light falling on it. Our brain adjusts for changes
in lighting to maintain a consistent perception of an object's brightness.

5. Location constancy: Location constancy is the ability to perceive the location of an object as
constant, even when it moves or changes position. For example, we can recognize a person
walking across a room as moving closer to us without perceiving them as changing size or shape.

These perceptual constancies are essential for our ability to navigate and interact with our
environment effectively. They allow us to maintain stable perceptions of objects and their
properties despite variations in sensory input. By preserving these constancies, our brains can
create a coherent and stable representation of the world around us.
V. Explain the parts of distance perception by giving
scientific examples.

Distance perception is the ability to accurately judge the distance between us and objects in our
environment. It involves a complex interplay of sensory information, cognitive processing, and past
experiences. There are several cues and factors that contribute to distance perception, including:

1. Binocular cues: Binocular cues are visual cues that rely on the input from both eyes to perceive
depth and distance. One important binocular cue is binocular disparity, which is the slight
difference in the images seen by each eye due to their slightly different perspectives. The brain
uses this difference to calculate the distance to an object. For example, when you look at an object
with one eye closed and then switch to the other eye, you will notice a shift in the object's position
relative to the background.

2. Monocular cues: Monocular cues are visual cues that can be perceived with one eye alone and
provide information about depth and distance. Examples of monocular cues include:

- Linear perspective: Parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance, giving us a
sense of depth. For example, railroad tracks seem to converge in the distance.

- Texture gradient: Objects with finer detail appear closer, while those with less detail appear
farther away. For instance, a field of flowers will appear more detailed up close but less detailed in
the distance.

- Relative size: Objects that appear larger are perceived as being closer, while smaller objects are
perceived as farther away. For example, if you see two people of different sizes standing next to
each other, you might perceive the larger person as being closer.

3. Motion parallax: Motion parallax refers to the apparent movement of objects at different
distances as we move through our environment. Objects closer to us appear to move faster than
objects farther away. For example, when you are in a car, trees near the road seem to pass by
quickly, while mountains in the distance appear to move more slowly.
4. Accommodation: Accommodation is a cue based on changes in the shape of the lens of our
eyes to focus on objects at different distances. When we focus on objects up close, our lens
becomes more rounded, and when we focus on distant objects, it flattens. This process helps us
perceive distance accurately.

5.Egocentric Distance: Egocentric distance refers to the distance between the observer and an
external object.

Example: Imagine standing on a hill and looking down at a tree. The angle at which you see the tree
(angular declination) provides information about its distance from your eyes1.

6.Exocentric Distance: Exocentric distance is the distance between two external objects,
regardless of the observer’s position.

Example: When you estimate the distance between two distant mountains or buildings, you’re
perceiving exocentric distance. Various cues, such as linear perspective, interposition, and texture
changes, contribute to this perception

By integrating these various cues and factors, our brains are able to construct a coherent and
accurate perception of distance in our environment. This ability is crucial for tasks such as
navigating through space, interacting with objects, and judging spatial relationships between
ourselves and our surroundings.

In summary, our perception of distance involves a fascinating interplay of visual cues,