Lecture Notes on Vision and Perception

Importance of Vision

• Vision is prioritized as the most important sense.
• We constantly observe our environment and interpret what we see.

Perception is Subjective

• Example: Emotions on a face can be interpreted differently by different people.
  • Surveyed over 120 individuals with mixed results on perceived emotions.
  • Common responses: discomfort, regret, skepticism, hope, empathy.
• Key Point: Our perception is filtered through our own experiences and biases.

Examples of Subjective Perception

• Dieters perceive apples as larger than non-dieters.
• Softball players see the ball as smaller after a slump.
• Political beliefs influence perceptions of politicians.

Research Example: Barack Obama

• In 2008, surveyed Americans about their perception of Obama’s photographs based on skin tone manipulation.
• Results showed a correlation between perceived images and voting behavior:
  • 75% of those who saw lighter images voted for Obama.
  • 89% of those who saw darker images voted for McCain.

How Eyes Work

• We can only see a small area sharply at a time (equivalent to a thumb's surface area at arm's length).
• Surrounding areas appear blurry, leading to ambiguous perceptions.
• Our minds fill in the gaps, making perception a subjective experience.

Social Psychology Perspective

• Fascination with why people disagree in their perceptions (e.g., half full vs. half empty).
• Investigated health and fitness perceptions.

Health and Fitness Study

• Most Americans break New Year's resolutions by Valentine’s Day.
• Some see exercise as more difficult or easier based on their fitness levels.
• Conducted studies measuring waist-to-hip ratios to see how physical fitness affected distance perception:
  • Unfit individuals perceived distances as farther than fit individuals.

Motivation and Perceptual Experience

• Conducted a second study to see if motivation affects perception of distance to a finish line.
• Results:
  • Unmotivated individuals saw the finish line as farther away.
  • Motivated individuals perceived it as closer, regardless of fitness level.

Strategy: "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"

• Developed a strategy to help change perceptions of difficulty:
  • Focus on the finish line, ignoring distractions in the environment.
• Results showed:
  • Participants who focused on the finish line saw it as 30% closer.
  • Reported 17% less exertion and moved 23% faster than control group.

Implications for Health

• "Keep your eyes on the prize" can be an effective strategy for improving exercise experiences and fitness outcomes.
• A cost-effective and easy method for anyone.

Perception and Reality

• Example of a photograph with two cars of the same size perceived differently.
• Affirms that our eyes and brains do not always align with reality.
• Different perceptions do not indicate right or wrong; they reflect individual experiences.

Personal Reflection

• Acknowledgment of how mood affects perception of others' emotions.
• Encourages finding alternative ways to view situations positively.
• Emphasizes that perception can be taught to see the world differently.

Conclusion

• We can influence our perceptions and make our experiences more positive.
• Teaching ourselves to see things differently can improve our overall outlook on life.