Shape constancy: Functional relationships and theoretical formulations.

In the 1st section empirical findings concerning shape constancy are reviewed under 10 headings: the occurrence of compromise, conditions of observation, degree of orientation, observation attitude, familiarity and representativeness, differences between forms, individual differences, background effects, effects of movement, exposure time and intensity. The 2nd section deals with several theoretical accounts of shape constancy. The shape-slant invariance hypothesis is evaluated in the light of the experimental evidence and is judged to be equivocal. A line of investigation is proposed which might reconcile the experimental data with the requirements of this hypothesis. The final section of the paper considers the methodological precautions which need to be observed in experimentation on apparent shape and apparent slant.

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