Richard Gregory's constructivist theory of perception posits that perception is:

A. Highly influenced by hypotheses and inferences.

B. Based primarily on sensory input.

C. Constructed through past experiences and knowledge.

D. A direct process that requires no prior knowledge.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is 'A and C Only.'

Key Points

• Richard Gregory's constructivist theory of perception:
  • Richard Gregory proposed that perception is not just a direct process of interpreting sensory input but is highly influenced by hypotheses and inferences.
  • According to this theory, perception is constructed through past experiences and knowledge, which help to interpret and make sense of sensory information.
  • This means that what we perceive is partly determined by what we already know, and our brain uses this prior knowledge to fill in gaps and make educated guesses about what we are seeing.

Additional Information

• Based primarily on sensory input:
  • This option suggests that perception is a direct process relying solely on sensory information, without the influence of prior knowledge or experience.
  • While sensory input is crucial, Gregory's theory emphasizes the role of cognitive processes in interpreting these inputs.
• A direct process that requires no prior knowledge:
  • This perspective aligns with the concept of direct perception, where sensory information alone is sufficient for perception.
  • Gregory, however, argues that perception is not purely direct and that our brain actively constructs our perceptual experience using past knowledge.