Optical illusions in psychology: what they are, types and how we perceive them

We are concentrating on seeing an image and interpreting something in a certain way. Suddenly, our mind begins to see a different object than the initial one. Surely you have ever seen a black and white image that can be interpreted as a cup or two faces. Does it look familiar to you?

Although it is true that the experiences that we have had throughout our lives influence our of perceiving reality, images can also vary depending on the perspective we have at that moment. moment. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the Optical illusions in psychology: what they are, types and how we perceive them.

Index

1. What are optical illusions in psychology
2. Types of optical illusions in psychology
3. How the brain works with optical illusions

First of all, we need to understand what we mean when we talk about optical illusions in psychology. This concept is associated with

It should be noted that this perception leads to distorted interpretations of external stimuli. When this happens on the plane of optical illusions, perception allows you to be given different meanings to the same image, thanks to the previous information that has been stored in the memory. In other words, the human being perceives the illusions according to the stimuli you have had in your daily life.

Also, there are some currents of psychology who have been responsible for the study of optical illusions over the years. Next, we will point out the most relevant:

Gestalt Psychology

In global terms, the gestalt psychology he has placed special emphasis on this class of perceptual phenomena. This branch is based on the premise that there is a tendency to group visible objects under specific forms even though they are not seen in their entirety. For this reason, perception enables a global interpretation to occur.

experimental psychology

Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the German psychologist Wilheim Wundt was in charge of thoroughly analyzing the perception of visual phenomena. In this way, William Wundt created the illusion of the inverted "T", which indicates that it is possible to perceive a longer line compared to another of the same size.

Although optical illusions in psychology have a univocal meaning, there are some characteristics that allow them to be differentiated. Next, we show you the different types of optical illusions:

• Distortion Optical Illusions: They are optical illusions in which variations can occur in some of the characteristics of the same image, such as size, symmetry, length, among others.
• fictional illusions: represent the figures that are perceived despite the absence of the relevant stimulus.
• ambiguous illusions: they consist of the figures that appear by the perception of two or more forms from the same stimulus.
• paradoxical illusions: this type of optical illusions occur when objects that are impossible to reproduce in everyday life are displayed.

If you want to know more about illusions you can also read Perceptive illusions: what they are, causes, types and examples.

To vary the perception of the person and produce optical illusions, it is essential that a series of important factors occur. First of all, it should be noted that during this process the brain enter a state of confusion, since the stimulus that is presented can have different meanings. For this reason, optical illusions are the result of a deception that occurs due to the impossibility of finding an adequate balance between what is perceived and its univocal meaning.

In contrast to the classic phenomenon of optical illusions, there is a tendency that considers that experiences of the person do not influence optical illusions and that the brain can see simple objects and integrated. This explains the low incidence of personal experiences linked to images stored in memory. For an optical illusion to materialize intervention of both the left and right hemispheres will be necessary, with the aim of integrating the information coming from the external stimulus.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Optical illusions in psychology: what they are, types and how we perceive them, we recommend that you enter our category of cognitive psychology.

• Lazzari, L., Moulia, P., Gervasoni, A. (2016). Contributions of optical illusions to different fields of knowledge. Cimbage Notebooks, 18 (1), 81-107.
• Oviedo, G.L. (2004). The definition of the concept of perception in psychology based on the Gestalt theory. Journal of Social Studies, 18 (10), 89-96.