Gibson's direct perception

Gibson's direct perception

1. Gibson suggests we have enough sensory information to make perception possible without processing taking place - 'direct perception'

   • states that perception is dynamic not static, with more information available as we move around

2. contrasted with Gregory's constructivist theory

3. Gibson discounts Gregory use of visual illusions to support the idea that we form perceptual hypotheses as illusions are artificial and occur when people are away from natural environment

4. can also be explained purely by what is present in the stimulus e.g. Muller-Lyer illusion in terms of perceptual compromise in line length and figure it is a part of

5. support for Gibson's ideas in instinctive behaviour - frog does need to form perceptual hypotheses about a fly before catching it

6. likely that direct perception and Gregory's constructivist theory are complementary - describing different aspects of perception

7. Gibson makes interesting contribution to explanation of perceptual processes and adds value with its emphasis on the richness of the perceptual environment