Perception

AP Psychology· difficulty 2/5

In a study, researchers showed participants a series of figures composed of dots and lines. One figure had dots arranged in two parallel rows; participants reported seeing two rows rather than a random scatter. Another figure had a circle with a small gap; participants reported seeing a complete circle. A third image had blue dots intermixed with red dots; participants grouped the blue dots into one shape and the red dots into another.

Reporting two rows rather than scattered dots best illustrates which gestalt principle?

  • A

    Continuity

  • B

    Similarity

  • C

    Proximity

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  • D

    Closure

Explanation

Proximity is the tendency to group objects that are near each other into a single perceptual unit. The dots in two rows are close along the rows, so they are perceived as rows rather than random.

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