Earlier Theories

Definition

Various theories of perception that were proposed prior to Gibson's ecological theory. These theories attempted to explain how humans perceive and interpret the world around them.

Related terms

Structuralism:

A theory that focused on breaking down perception into its basic elements through introspection.

Behaviorism:

A theory that emphasized the study of observable behavior rather than internal mental processes.

Gestalt Psychology:

A theory that emphasized the importance of organizing sensory information into meaningful wholes.