PSYC2274 Lecture 2: 1/18/18
Document Summary
Perception is filling in gaps information has by making assumptions. Study of perception is the origin of psychology as a distinct field from philosophy. One that obeys mathematical laws traditional/nativist/dualist view: mind is not a part of the physical world/part of the body, so no. The mind is actually the product of the physical world. Emerges from empiricism/materialism that if physical world can be measured, then the mental world can also be measured mathematically. Ernst weber (1795-1878) measured the ability to detect the difference between 2 spheres of different weights. What is the relationship between your ability to detect two sound sources are different in loudness, two light sources are different in brightness, etc. Interested in understanding how people detect differences in weights of 2 metal spheres. This was easier to produce than light sources of different intensities at the time. Slowly increase the difference between the two weights until you can reliably say which is heavier/lighter.
