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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Rubin Vase
Visual illusions are fascinating phenomena where what we perceive differs from the physical reality. They occur when our brain interprets visual information in ways that don't match the actual stimulus, revealing important insights about how our visual system works. The Rubin Vase is one of the most famous examples of these perceptual tricks.
Key Definitions:
Our visual system doesn't simply record images like a camera. Instead, it actively interprets what we see based on past experiences, expectations and perceptual rules. Visual illusions occur when these interpretation processes lead to perceptions that don't match reality. Studying illusions helps psychologists understand normal visual processing.
Visual illusions are more than just interesting tricks they provide valuable insights into how our brain processes visual information. By studying when and how our perception fails, psychologists can better understand normal visual processing. Illusions reveal the shortcuts and assumptions our brain makes when interpreting the world around us.
The Rubin Vase (also known as the Rubin Face or the Figure-Ground Vase) is a famous ambiguous illusion created by Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin in 1915. It's a classic example of figure-ground perception that demonstrates how our visual system organises and interprets visual information.
When looking at the Rubin Vase illusion, you might initially see either a white vase (or goblet) on a black background, or two black face profiles looking at each other against a white background. Most people can see both interpretations, but typically not at the same time. Your perception will likely switch back and forth between the two interpretations.
Edgar Rubin was a Danish psychologist who specialised in visual perception. He published his work on figure-ground perception, including the famous vase illusion, in his 1915 doctoral thesis "Synsoplevede Figurer" (Visually Experienced Figures). Rubin was interested in how we distinguish objects from their backgrounds, a fundamental aspect of perception that we often take for granted.
The Rubin Vase demonstrates a key principle in visual perception: figure-ground organisation. This refers to how our visual system separates objects (figures) from their backgrounds (ground). In normal perception, this happens automatically and effortlessly, but ambiguous images like the Rubin Vase reveal the complexity behind this process.
What we perceive as the "figure" typically appears to:
What we perceive as the "ground" typically appears to:
In the Rubin Vase:
The Rubin Vase illusion works because of several psychological principles:
The critical element in the Rubin Vase illusion is the shared contour between the two possible perceptions. Our visual system must assign this border to either the vase or the faces. Since a border can only belong to one object at a time in our perception, we can't see both interpretations simultaneously. This demonstrates how our brain makes decisions about what belongs to an object and what belongs to its background.
The phenomenon of switching between seeing the vase and seeing the faces is called "perceptual switching" or "bistable perception." This happens because neither interpretation is dominant enough to completely override the other. Your attention and focus can influence which interpretation you see, but eventually, your perception will switch to the alternative interpretation.
Several factors influence whether we perceive something as figure or ground:
The Gestalt psychologists, who were active around the same time as Rubin, identified several principles that help explain how we organise visual information. These principles help explain why the Rubin Vase illusion works:
Symmetrical areas tend to be seen as figures. Both the vase and the face profiles in the Rubin illusion are symmetrical, which contributes to the ambiguity.
Smaller areas tend to be perceived as figures against larger backgrounds. Variations of the Rubin Vase that make either the vase or faces smaller can influence which is seen first.
We're more likely to perceive familiar shapes as figures. Human faces are extremely familiar to us, which is why many people notice the faces first in the Rubin Vase.
In a 2011 study, researchers used eye-tracking technology to examine how attention influences perception of the Rubin Vase. They found that where participants fixated their gaze influenced which interpretation they reported seeing. When participants focused on regions that would be part of the vase, they were more likely to report seeing the vase. Similarly, when they focused on regions that would be part of the faces, they were more likely to report seeing the faces. This demonstrates how attention can guide figure-ground assignment.
The principles demonstrated by the Rubin Vase have practical applications in various fields:
Artists and designers often use figure-ground relationships deliberately to create interesting visual effects. Logo designers frequently employ figure-ground ambiguity to create clever, memorable designs that contain multiple meanings. For example, the FedEx logo contains a hidden arrow in the negative space between the 'E' and 'x', using the same principles as the Rubin Vase.
Understanding figure-ground perception is crucial for creating effective user interfaces. Designers need to ensure that important elements (like buttons or text) are clearly perceived as figures against their backgrounds. Poor figure-ground relationships can make interfaces confusing and difficult to use.
When examining visual illusions like the Rubin Vase for your GCSE Psychology, consider these key points:
When discussing visual illusions like the Rubin Vase in your exam:
The Rubin Vase is a classic example of an ambiguous figure-ground illusion that demonstrates how our visual system organises and interprets visual information. By creating a situation where the same contour can be interpreted as belonging to either of two different figures, the illusion reveals the complex processes involved in figure-ground perception. Understanding these processes helps us appreciate how our visual system constructs our perception of the world and has practical applications in fields like art, design and user interface development.
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