Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Perceptual constancy is the tendency to perceive an object as remaining stable and unchanging despite changes in sensory input, such as alterations in its distance or in the light it reflects.
Related terms
Size Constancy: This refers to our perception that an object remains the same size even if its distance from us changes.
Shape Constancy: This is our ability to perceive an object as having the same shape despite changes in its orientation or angle of view.