Figure 1:
In order to study the role of perceptual set, Robert Leeper had the image redrawn in two biased forms: one, which emphasized the young woman (Figure 2) and the other which emphasized the old woman (Figure 3). Refer to the images below.
Figure 2:
Figure 3:
A perceptual set is an individual's predisposition to respond to particular events or objects in a particular manner. Since we tend to perceive what we expect to perceive, this can also be called our perceptual expectations. Perceptual expectations can easily be influenced.
We have performed this experiment several times and get comparable results. We randomly assign participants into three groups. The first group is a control group that is shown only Figure 1. Somewhere between 55 and 60 percent of the people usually describe the image as that of a young woman. The next group was first shown Figure 2 for about ten seconds, followed immediately by Figure 1. Somewhere between 95 and 99 percent of the people usually describe Figure 1 as that of a young woman. The final group was first shown Figure 3 for about ten seconds, followed immediately by Figure 1. Somewhere between 90 and 95 percent of the people usually describe Figure 1 as that of an old woman.
For each of the primed groups, people’s interpretations were locked-in to the frame they were initially exposed to. It took less than ten seconds for this subtle influence to work its magic. What is most amusing is the conviction of the participants regarding their interpretation. If you pit a member of the second and third groups against one another, you often will have a heated exchange regarding how Figure 1 should be interpreted. If less than 10 seconds can have this effect, imagine the influence when we are repeated exposed to particular frames.
