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Testing different interpretations for the mistaken belief that rays exit the eyes during vision
Gerald A Winer1, Aaron W Rader, Jane E Cottrell
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA. winer.1@osu.edu
The Journal of Psychology
|June 11, 2003
Summary
Many people believe vision involves emissions from the eye, echoing ancient extramission theories. Research suggests these beliefs arise from focusing on vision's outward appearance rather than its sensory input.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Philosophy of perception
- Visual science
Background:
- Children and adults commonly hold intuitive beliefs about vision.
- These beliefs often align with historical extramission theories, suggesting vision involves something emanating from the eye.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origins of extramission beliefs in human perception.
- To differentiate between beliefs stemming from conceptualizing vision's process versus its necessary conditions.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: Participants were trained to focus on the necessary conditions for vision.
- Study 2: Participants were prompted to consider the role of visual input in perception.
Main Results:
- Training on vision's necessary conditions did not alter extramission beliefs.
- Emphasizing visual input significantly reduced extramission responses.
Conclusions:
- Extramission notions appear to be rooted in the external, outward-directed experience of seeing.
- Beliefs about vision are influenced by phenomenological aspects rather than solely by functional understanding.