Perception

Perception is the process by which we interpret sensory information to understand our environment. In AQA GCSE Psychology, this topic explores how the brain organises and makes sense of visual data, focusing on the difference between sensation (raw data from the eyes) and perception (the brain's interpretation). Key theories include Gibson's direct theory of perception (bottom-up processing) and Gregory's constructivist theory (top-down processing), which debate whether perception is innate or learned through experience.

Understanding perception is crucial because it explains everyday phenomena like visual illusions, depth perception, and why we sometimes misjudge what we see. This topic connects to broader psychological themes such as nature vs. nurture, the role of experience, and how cognitive processes shape our reality. It also links to other GCSE topics like memory and learning, as perception influences how we encode information.

Students will study key concepts such as monocular and binocular depth cues, visual illusions (e.g., the Müller-Lyer illusion), and factors affecting perception (e.g., culture, motivation, expectation). Mastery of this topic requires evaluating theories and studies, such as Gibson's support from real-world navigation and Gregory's evidence from ambiguous figures. This knowledge is not only exam-relevant but also helps students think critically about how they perceive the world.