Visual Cliff Experiment

Definition

The visual cliff experiment is a research method used to study depth perception in infants and animals. It involves placing a glass-covered table with a "cliff" edge, creating the illusion of a drop-off, and observing whether subjects avoid stepping off the edge or not.

Theoretical Perspectives

The Visual Cliff experiment relates to the developmental and cognitive perspectives of psychology, exploring the nature of depth perception and its development in infancy.

Study And Research Findings

Eleanor Gibson and Richard Walk conducted the Visual Cliff experiment in 1960, demonstrating that human infants and young animals can perceive depth by around 6 months of age.

Related terms

Depth Perception:

The ability to perceive objects in three dimensions and judge their distance from oneself.

Binocular Cues:

Visual cues requiring both eyes that help us perceive depth, such as retinal disparity (slightly different images received by each eye).

Monocular Cues:

Visual cues requiring only one eye that help us perceive depth, such as relative size (larger objects appearing closer) or interposition (objects blocking others being seen as closer).