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It doesn't add up: Nested affordances for reaching are perceived as a complex particular.

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Perception of complex affordances is direct, not computed from simpler parts. This study shows superordinate affordances are perceived "as such," supporting ecological psychology principles.

Keywords:
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Area of Science:

  • Ecological Psychology
  • Perception and Action
  • Affordance Theory

Background:

  • Affordances are relationships between animal and environment.
  • Ecological approach posits direct perception of affordances.
  • Superordinate affordances emerge from lower-order affordances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate direct perception of superordinate affordances.
  • Test if superordinate affordance perception is reducible to constituent parts.
  • Examine perception of reaching affordances with and without tools.

Main Methods:

  • Participants judged maximum reachable height.
  • Judgments were made with arm alone and with a tool.
  • Results compared to an additive model of constituent properties.

Main Results:

  • Maximum reaching height judgments differed from additive models.
  • Perception of superordinate affordances was not reducible to lower-order constituents.
  • Findings held true even when constituents were affordances themselves.

Conclusions:

  • Affordances are perceived directly, not computed.
  • Supports ecological claim that affordances are perceived 'as such'.
  • Direct perception applies even to complex, superordinate affordances.