Magdalen Dorothea Vernon Books

When we look at the world with our eyes, do we see it as it really is? In this authoritative study the former Professor of Psychology at the University of Reading shows how, behind the retina of the eye, many more fallible mental processes cause errors and inconsistencies to creep into our perceptions. Here is a non-technical outline of the psychological processes which have been shown to be involved in our visual perceptions of things around us. These perceptions of shape, colour, movement and space develop gradually from infancy upwards. Finally this book, which is based on over thirty years of psychological research at Cambridge and elsewhere, shows how the perceptions of different people are not always alike : they vary with attention, interest and individual personality factors.

Originally published in 1952, this book was built upon a reconsideration of the findings presented in Vernon's 1937 title, Visual Perception. The text puts forward the 'belief and contention that the individual constructs his perceived world as far as possible in accordance with the maintenance of the maximum of stability, endurance, and consistency'. An appendix section and indices are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in perspectives on the nature of visual perception.