Textbooks on perception are filled with examples demonstrating that the same pictures can give rise to different percepts, depending on the context in which it is observed and the past experience of the observer. Figure D illustrates the role of stimulus in perception. The center of the figure can be seen either as the letter B or the number 13, depending on the context in which it appears. Similarly past experience influences perceptual hypotheses we form when we see something for the first time. Remember the ambiguous drawing of the young woman/old woman. On first viewing, about 65 percent of people report seeing a pretty young woman, and 35 percent see an unattractive old woman. But if we first show a group of subjects a set of unambiguous pictures all depicting young women and then show them the ambiguous picture, they almost always see it as a young woman. The reverse can be demonstrated by first showing subjects a set of pictures all showing old women.
We've decided to go to France for our holiday.Don't forget to turn off all the lights.We hope to see you again soon.I'm learning to drive. My test's next month.I need to go to the supermarket. We don't have any milk.He offered me to help with my CV.They're planning to get married soon.He pretended to be ill, but he wasn't really.He's promised to pay me back when he gets a job.Remember to bring your dictionaries to class tomorrow.It was very cloudy and it started to rain.I'm trying to find a job, but it's very hard.I want to catch the six-o'clock train.I'd like to buy a new car next month.
CONTEXT AND EXPERIENCE
Textbooks on perception are filled with examples demonstrating that the same pictures can give rise to different percepts, depending on the context in which it is observed and the past experience of the observer. Figure D illustrates the role of stimulus in perception. The center of the figure can be seen either as the letter B or the number 13, depending on the context in which it appears. Similarly past experience influences perceptual hypotheses we form when we see something for the first time. Remember the ambiguous drawing of the young woman/old woman. On first viewing, about 65 percent of people report seeing a pretty young woman, and 35 percent see an unattractive old woman. But if we first show a group of subjects a set of unambiguous pictures all depicting young women and then show them the ambiguous picture, they almost always see it as a young woman. The reverse can be demonstrated by first showing subjects a set of pictures all showing old women.