Perception of Form and Figure Ground

Definition of Form Perception

          The process of organizing visual field into meaningful wholes is known as form perception (NCERT).

          Form perception refers to our ability to visually perceive objects in the world in response to the patterns of light that they caste on our retinas (link.springer.com).

Introduction

          Our environment is full of varied beautiful objects, colours, shapes that are sensed by our eyes and consequently perceived by brain into complete meaningful objects and events. It occurs when different characteristics and parts of an object are combined by the brain and then perceived. Perception is a conscious experience and learning is the function of perceptual process. The perception of ‘form’ of an object starts with formation of two dimensional image of the object on the retina. Than the neural impulses are organized and interpreted by the brain in various contexts. The ‘form’ perception is multilevel simultaneous process that happens in one composite instance. It starts from understanding primary components of an object such as lines, contours, edges, vertices, colours etc. Then the relation between these primary components and their relative meaning is perceived & finally the form of an object as a whole is perceived. The form perception is the outcome of perceptual organization. It is the process by which the brain structures the input from sensory receptors (Baron, 1993).

Some Brief on Form Perception

          Gestalt School of thought explained the form perception in its totality. The individuals do not perceive different components of an object as discrete but as an organized whole that carries a form. This form is different from the sum of their components. The Gestalt psychologists proposed several principles of perceptual   organization  (organization of   sensory information). The Gestaltists suggests that we are naturally oriented to perceive Good figures or Pragnanz (Concise and meaningful) hence, we everything in organized form. The figure-ground relationship helps clarify between the sensation and perception. While the pattern of sensory inputs generated in our senses remain constant, while    our perception shifts (Baron, 1993).

Basis for Difference between Figure and Ground

1.       Figure has a definite form, while ground or background is formless.

2.       Relatively figure is better organised than ground.

3.       Figure is perceived to have clear contours, while background seems to have none.

4.       Figure stands out from the background, while background stays behind the figure.

5.       Figure is perceived as more clear, limited, and relatively nearer and background relatively unclear, unlimited, and away from us. 

References:

1.       NCERT, XI Psychology Text book.

2.       Ciccarelli, S. K. & Meyer, G. E., (2016). Psychology. Noida: Pearson India.

3.       Baron, R. (1993). Psychology.

4.       Grossberg S., (2009). Form Perception. In: Binder M.D., Hirokawa N., Windhorst U. (eds) Encyclopedia of Neuroscience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

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