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James J. Gibson and the Psychology of Perception
Explore the profound insights of "James J. Gibson and the Psychology of Perception" by Edward S. Reed, a cornerstone text published by Yale University Press. This compelling volume delves into the revolutionary theories of James J. Gibson, a pivotal figure in the field of perceptual psychology. Reed's work offers a comprehensive analysis of Gibson's ecological approach to visual perception, making complex concepts accessible while highlighting their enduring impact on cognitive science and philosophy.
This book is an essential read for students, academics, and enthusiasts of psychology, cognitive science, and perception studies. It meticulously examines Gibson's mature theory, providing a clear understanding of his groundbreaking ideas about how we perceive the world. Whether you're a scholar seeking to deepen your understanding of perceptual theory or a collector of significant academic works, this first edition offers a unique opportunity to own a foundational text that continues to shape discussions in its field.
This book is an essential read for students, academics, and enthusiasts of psychology, cognitive science, and perception studies. It meticulously examines Gibson's mature theory, providing a clear understanding of his groundbreaking ideas about how we perceive the world. Whether you're a scholar seeking to deepen your understanding of perceptual theory or a collector of significant academic works, this first edition offers a unique opportunity to own a foundational text that continues to shape discussions in its field.
- GenresPsychology
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 1989
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November 17, 2014
Reed's book is evidently a labor of love. It tells the story of a "distinguished dissident" who felt reluctantly compelled by the evidence he encountered in his research to question views that had been taken for granted for centuries. Reed tells us that
the implications of Gibson's revolution have only rarely been understood.
"There are some 20,000 psychologists in this country alone [in 19661], nearly all of whom seem to be busily applying psychology to problems of life and personality. They seem to feel, many of them, that all we need to do is consolidate our scientific gains. Their self-confidence astonishes me. For these gains seem to me puny, and scientific psychology seems to me ill-founded. At any time the whole psychological applecart might be upset. Let them beware!"
Gibson wants us to go back to square one and to start again from the indubitable fact that we, like any other animal, do successfully interact with our environment, what biologists now call our ecological niche," by looking, listening, sensing, and moving. Instead of making this fact the starting point of their investigations psychologists had actually tried to prevent their subjects from gaining awareness of their surroundings.
The difficulties he presents and the profits he offers are of a different kind. What he asks us mainly to do is to unlearn. Our entire education has been geared to making us distrust our senses and slightly to look down on those who confuse their subjective experiences with objective facts.
the implications of Gibson's revolution have only rarely been understood.
"There are some 20,000 psychologists in this country alone [in 19661], nearly all of whom seem to be busily applying psychology to problems of life and personality. They seem to feel, many of them, that all we need to do is consolidate our scientific gains. Their self-confidence astonishes me. For these gains seem to me puny, and scientific psychology seems to me ill-founded. At any time the whole psychological applecart might be upset. Let them beware!"
Gibson wants us to go back to square one and to start again from the indubitable fact that we, like any other animal, do successfully interact with our environment, what biologists now call our ecological niche," by looking, listening, sensing, and moving. Instead of making this fact the starting point of their investigations psychologists had actually tried to prevent their subjects from gaining awareness of their surroundings.
The difficulties he presents and the profits he offers are of a different kind. What he asks us mainly to do is to unlearn. Our entire education has been geared to making us distrust our senses and slightly to look down on those who confuse their subjective experiences with objective facts.
Displaying 1 of 1 review