contrast illusion

a class of visual illusions in which the degree of a stimulus attribute, such as perceived size, color, brightness, or angle, is affected by the presence of additional stimuli that differ in the same attribute. For example, a small circle at the center of many large circles will appear to be smaller than the same circle at the center of many smaller circles.

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Psychology term of the day

November 16th 2024

Strange Situation

an experimental technique used to assess quality of attachment in infants and young children (up to the age of 2). The procedure subjects the child to increasing amounts of stress induced by a strange setting, the entrance of an unfamiliar person, and two brief separations from the parent. The reaction of the child to each of these situations is used to evaluate the security or insecurity of his or her attachment to the parent. See insecure attachment; secure attachment. [devised in 1978 by Mary D. Salter Ainsworth]