AP Psychology Flashcards: Perception
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 29 cards to help you master important concepts.
What two general categories of factors influence perception?
Perception is influenced by both internal factors, such as schemas, and external factors, such as context and culture.
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What two general categories of factors influence perception?
Perception is influenced by both internal factors, such as schemas, and external factors, such as context and culture.
An artist uses the fact that parallel lines seem to converge in the distance to create a sense of depth in a painting. What is this cue called?
This is an example of the monocular depth cue known as linear perspective, used to create the illusion of depth on a 2D surface.
If you interpret a rope in a dimly lit room as a snake, what type of processing is likely dominating your perception?
This is likely dominated by top-down processing, as your prior expectations and fears are influencing your interpretation of the sensory information.
What is a perceptual set?
A perceptual set is an internal factor that creates a predisposition to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations.
What is a major consequence of inattention regarding our awareness of the environment?
Inattention can lead to blindness to certain aspects of our environment, such as failing to notice changes.
Define convergence as a depth cue.
Convergence is a binocular depth cue based on the extent to which our eyes turn inward when looking at an object.
What is the potential outcome of visual perceptual processes on our interpretation of stimuli?
Visual perceptual processes can produce either correct or incorrect interpretations of the stimuli we encounter in our environment.
What are binocular depth cues?
Binocular depth cues are clues about distance that require the use of images from both eyes to perceive depth.
Define the Gestalt principle of closure.
Closure is a Gestalt principle describing the human tendency to mentally fill in gaps in a visual stimulus to perceive a complete, whole object.
What is selective attention?
Selective attention is the process that allows an individual to focus on a particular stimulus while filtering out other distractions.
How do internal factors like schemas and perceptual sets influence what we perceive?
Schemas and perceptual sets act as filters, causing us to notice certain aspects of sensory information while ignoring others based on our expectations.
Define the Gestalt principle of figure-ground.
Figure-ground is a Gestalt principle describing our perceptual tendency to organize a scene into a main object (the figure) and its surrounding background (the ground).
What is the fundamental purpose of Gestalt principles?
Gestalt principles, such as closure and proximity, explain the predictable ways in which humans organize sensory information into meaningful perceptions.
What are visual perceptual constancies?
Visual perceptual constancies allow us to maintain a stable perception of an object despite changes in the visual field, such as light or angle.
What are monocular depth cues?
Monocular depth cues are clues about distance that are available from the image in just one eye.
Define retinal disparity.
Retinal disparity is a binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing the slightly different images the brain receives from each retina.
How is attention related to sensation and perception?
Attention is the interaction of sensation and perception, where internal and external processes determine which sensory information we focus on.
What real-world phenomenon demonstrates selective attention by allowing you to focus on one conversation in a noisy environment?
The cocktail party effect, where one can focus on a single speaker among many, is a key example of selective attention.
Define the Gestalt principle of similarity.
Similarity is a Gestalt principle stating that humans tend to group similar figures together when organizing perceptions.
Define the Gestalt principle of proximity.
Proximity is a Gestalt principle stating that humans tend to group nearby figures together when organizing perceptions.
In what common situation are monocular depth cues essential for creating a perception of depth?
Monocular depth cues, such as relative size and linear perspective, are essential for giving the illusion of depth on 2D surfaces like paintings or photos.
Define top-down processing.
Top-down processing is the perceptual process of using prior expectations, schemas, and context to interpret sensory information.
You see a friend walking away from you. Why do you not perceive them as physically shrinking?
This is due to size constancy, a type of visual perceptual constancy that maintains our perception of an object's size despite changes in the visual field.
List three external factors that can filter or influence perception.
Contexts, personal experiences, and culture are all external factors that can filter and shape our perceptions.
What is apparent movement?
Apparent movement is a visual illusion where movement is perceived even when the objects themselves are stationary.
Name two examples of monocular depth cues.
Two examples of monocular depth cues are relative size and linear perspective.
What are schemas in the context of perception?
Schemas are internal factors, or mental frameworks, that help organize and filter incoming sensory information to form perceptions.
Define bottom-up processing.
Bottom-up processing is the perceptual process of relying on sensory information from a stimulus to form a perception.
Define change blindness.
Change blindness is a form of inattentional blindness where a person fails to notice a change in their visual environment.