A "Psychological" Optical Illusion

[Kanada Kev]

http://www.eyes-and-vision.com/influence-of-culture-on-visual-perception.html?rss.do

A "Psychological" Optical Illusion:

The influence of culture and environment can have an effect on our visual perception. This theory was first explored by Robert Laws, a Scottish missionary working in Malawi, Africa, during the late 1800's. Take a look at the picture below. What you see will largely depend on where you live in the world. After you have examined the picture, scroll down for a more detailed explanation.

So What Did You See?

What is above the woman's head? When scientists showed a similar sketch to people from East Africa, nearly all the participants in the experiment said she was balancing a box or metal can on her head. In a culture containing few angular visual cues, the family is seen sitting under a tree. Westerners, on the other hand, are accustomed to the corners and boxlike shapes of architecture. They are more likely to place the family indoors and to interpret the rectangle above the woman's head as a window through which shrubbery can be seen.

[Esau.]

Strange, at first I thought they were sitting under a tree, but what I perceive as the window, made it seem indoors. But my original thought was outdoors, mainly due to all but one sitting on the ground.

[bokonon]

Strange, at first I thought they were sitting under a tree, but what I perceive as the window, made it seem indoors. But my original thought was outdoors, mainly due to all but one sitting on the ground.

Must be your east African ancestry.

[bouche]

i feel that it is too shitty of a drawing to make an accurate judgement . The next question should be "which of the people depicted in the shitty drawing are male, and which are female?"

[Davey Boy 2.0]

that picture made me want to drink a beer and smoke a gagger- what do i win?

[bokonon]

that picture made me want to drink a beer and smoke a gagger- what do i win?

I don't know what you win but can I come over?

[Im going home Donny]

i feel that it is too shitty of a drawing to make an accurate judgement . The next question should be "which of the people depicted in the shitty drawing are male, and which are female?"

Precisely what I thought. Though I did think one kid and one woman looked white while the rest did not....wtf does that say?...exscuse me...caucasion.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Guest

[Im going home Donny]

oh not precisely what I thought. I'm in aggreeance about the shitty drawing.

Pretty sure its 2 woman-the rest dudes....okay leaving thread in search of my life now....

[c-towns]

I thought they were discussing the ransom note for spuds mackenzie's owners in their hideout.

[Gr8FuL]

damn i thought iut was a drawing of the old cosby show, dr huxtable, Theo, mrs huxtable, rudy, vanessa, the whole gang.... shit