Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

CHAPTER3Sensation andPerceptionLearning to SeePROLOGUEMIKE WAS JUST 3 YEARS OLD when In the 1990s, Mike started a successfula jar of chemicals left in an old storage company that develops global positioningshed exploded in his face. The blast destroyedhis left eye, and severely damaged his for the blind. The portable navigation systemdevices, along with other mobility devices,right eye. For more than four decades, Mike gives visually impaired people informationMay was completely blind (Kurson, 2007). about their location, landmarks, streets,But despite his blindness, Mikeand so forth wherever they travel. With hisexperienced—and accomplished—much white cane and guide dog, Josh, Mikemore than most people ever dream of traveled the world, both as a businessmanachieving. Always athletic, Mike played flag and a tourist, ever optimistic and open tofootball in elementary school and wrestled adventure (Kurson, 2007). His personaland played soccer in high school and college. motto: “There is always a way.”As an adult, he earned a master’s degree in But in 1999, Mike’s keen sensory worldinternational affairs from Johns Hopkins of touch, sounds, and aroma was on theUniversity, went to work for the CIA, and verge of expanding. A new surgical techniquebecame available that offered thethen became a successful businessman.He also learned to skydive, windsurf, chance that Mike’s vision might be restoredwater-ski, and snow-ski. How does a blind in his right eye. On March 7, 2000, Jenniferperson ski down mountains? If youheld her breath as the bandages wereanswered, “very carefully,” you’d beremoved. “It was so unexpected—therewrong—at least in Mike’s case. With a was just a whoosh! of light blasting intoguide skiing in front of him shouting “left” my eye,” Mike later recalled (May, 2002b).or “right” to identify obstacles, Mike hurtleddown the most difficult black diamond Mike May could see.For the first time since he was 3 years old,slopes at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. And what was it like when Mike couldIn fact, Mike has won several medals in see Jennifer for the first time? “It wasnational and international championships incredible,” he explained, “but the truth is,for blind downhill speed skiing.I knew exactly what she looked like, so itIt was through skiing that Mike met his wasn’t all that dramatic to see her. Thewife, Jennifer. An accomplished skier herself, same with my kids. Now, seeing other peoplethat I can’t touch, well, that’sshe volunteered to be his guide at a skislope. Today, Mike and Jennifer and their interesting because I couldn’t see themtwo sons are all avid skiers (Abrams, 2002). before.”>Chapter Outline• Prologue: Learning to See• Introduction: What Are Sensationand Perception?SCIENCE VERSUS PSEUDOSCIENCE:Subliminal Perception• Vision: From Light to SightFOCUS ON NEUROSCIENCE: Vision,Experience, and the Brain• Hearing: From Vibration to Sound• The Chemical and Body Senses:Smell, Taste, Touch, and PositionIN FOCUS: Do PheromonesInfluence Human Behavior?• PerceptionCULTURE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR:Ways of SeeingCRITICAL THINKING: ESP: CanPerception Occur WithoutSensation?• Perceptual Illusions• The Effects of Experience onPerceptual InterpretationsCULTURE AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR:Culture and the Müller-LyerIllusion: The Carpentered-WorldHypothesis• Closing ThoughtsENHANCING WELL-BEING WITHPSYCHOLOGY: Strategies toControl Pain• Chapter Review87