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2: The development of perception in infancy
Outline
Why study perception in infancy?
Theories of perceptual development
Research:
– what can infants perceive
– how do infants interpret their perceptions
– cultural differences in perception
Learning outcomes
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Why study perception in infancy?
Underlies other developments
illuminates the nature-nurture debate
provides a BASELINE for development
2 issues:
– what can infants perceive?
– How do infants interpret what they perceive?
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Theories of perceptual development
Piagetian theory:
– no understanding of perception without
experience
– infants make sense of sensory information
through interaction with environment
Ecological theory:
– Eleanor and James Gibson
– direct perception - AFFORDANCES -
environment provides information
– perceptual learning:
process of increased efficiency
process of distinguishing finer discrimination
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From Schiff, 1986
Texture Gradient
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Theories of perceptual development
Nativism:
– Spelke
– innate core principles:
e.g. impenetrability, object identity,
spatiotemporal continuity
Constructivism?:
– Baillargeon
– innate mechanisms + learning
– preliminary concepts -> adultlike concepts
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Newborns
– Can discriminate between stripes and a
uniform surface
– Fixed focal length – 21cm
Visual perception
