Figure Ground Perception

In psychology “perception” refers to our internal mental world, or in other words, what’s going on inside your mind.

Our perception of the external world can sometimes be different from what we actually see. For example, when light enters the eye the images that hit the retina are actually upside down, yet we perceive them as being the right way up.

Another example could include looking at a series of dots which are organised in the shape of a letter. Even though we see a letter, in reality they are just a series of disconnected dots.

So whilst sensation deals with the raw data we receive from our external environment, perception is the organisation of that data and the meaning we give to it.

As a result, most of our behaviour comes from our perception of the external world, for if we think something is a certain way then we will act a certain way. In other words, we act on what we think is true, and not necessarily on what actually is true.

This is why perception is an important area of psychology, because it is a key factor which influences our behaviour.

Figure-Ground Perception

One of the most fundamental ideas of Gestalt psychology is that we are born with some basic “organising tendencies”, such as the ability to distinguish an object from a background.

For example, suppose you are walking along a country path and in front of you there is nothing but open fields, clear sky and a thatched cottage.

Using Gestalt terminology, the cottage that you see is called a “figure” because it is a well defined object that stands out.

Surrounding that cottage is the sky, which again using Gestalt terminology is called the “background” because it surrounds the figure.

What I have just described is known as “figure-ground perception” and is an inborn organising tendency we all posses. That being, the ability to distinguish a figure from a larger background.

Inborn Organising Tendency

The reason it is called an inborn organising tendency, is because we are able to distinguish figures from backgrounds from birth.

For example, a baby may reach towards an object placed in front of it, which shows that it is able to distinguish that object from the background which surrounds it.

Since nobody taught the baby how to do that, this suggests that we are not born as “blank slates” into this world, but rather have some inborn basic programming which allows us to explore and interact with the world.

We can summarise the main principles of figure-ground perception by saying that in general the figure is the smaller object and appears to come forward, or be slightly in front of, the background.

For example, in the image below blue is the dominant colour but green seems to be in front of it.

Now green is the dominant colour, but blue seems to be in front of it.

In both examples although one colour may appear to be in front of the other, in reality they are not.

This shows us that in some cases figure-ground perception is a mental construction, and occurs as a result of how we mentally organise what we see.

Reversing Figure-Ground Perception

A good example to demonstrate how figure-ground perception can be both reversible and a construct of the mind, can be see with optical illusions.

To start with, let’s use a very famous example. Looking at the picture below what do you see?

Depending on how you look at this picture, you will see either two faces looking at each other or a vase.

If you concentrate on the black areas the two faces (figure) appear to stand out in front of the white (background).

However should you concentrate on the white area, a vase (figure) seems to stand out on a black background.

What you have just done here is shown to yourself how figure-ground perception can be reversed, which shows that in this case it is a mental construct of the mind.

In other words, you have seen how your internal mental world can differ from your external physical world as a result of how you perceive it to be (i.e. the difference between the world at the level of sensation and the world at the level of perception). 

Here is another slightly harder example. Remember, there are two images in this picture which you will be able to see by reversing the figure and background.  What do you see?

In this picture, by concentrating on the white in the centre you can see a woman in the arms of a man.

However if you focus on the dark grey in the centre of the picture, you can see dolphins.

So again, what you see are two versions of reality. But depending on how your mind chooses to interpret that information, will ultimately determine which reality you actually see and experience.

Illusions

An illusion is defined as something which fools the senses, such as by appearing to exist when it does not, or appearing to be one thing when in fact it is another.

Illusions are usually associated with a particular sense. For example, the moon creates an optical illusion by appearing larger when it is nearer the horizon, and smaller when it is higher and overhead.

Illusions are sometimes confused with delusions and/or hallucinations, however these are something completely different.

Delusions

A delusion is a false belief. For example, if I were to believe that I have eyes on the back of my head, this would be a delusion because what I believe to be true is not.

Hallucinations

A hallucination is a perception created by an individual. It does not exist in reality, but is created in that individuals mind.

For example, if I have an imaginary friend that nobody else can see then this would be classified as a hallucination because my “friend” does not exist in reality.

Although illusions are normal and experienced by most people, delusions and hallucinations are generally associated with mentally disturbed people.

Overall illusions show us that the world we see can sometimes be created or altered by brain.

Summary

• Perception deals with our internal mental world, and how we organise and give meaning to the information we collect via our senses.

• The external world is sometimes called our geographical world, and our internal world our psychological world.

• Figure-ground perception is an inborn organising tendency we all possess, which allows us to distinguish objects from a background.

• Illusions, such as the face-vase illusion, show us that figure-ground perception can in some cases be both reversible and a construct of the mind.

• A delusion is a false belief, and a hallucination is a perception that only exists in someone’s mind and not in reality.