Theories Of Perception Essay Example for Free

Theories Of Perception Essay How the mind works during perception have been one of the mysteries of the mind. Cognitive psychology is involved in the investigation and the understanding of behaviors that is caused by cognitive functioning. If developmental psychology had to deal with the nature-nurture debate, the theories of perception are generally conceived either as a bottom-up approach or the top-down approach. The bottom-up approach says that perception visual stimuli is dependent on the characteristics of the stimuli, if the stimuli has the right color, shape, intensity and background, then the mind would readily perceive the stimuli (Noà «, 2004). On the other hand, the top-down approach says that perception is influenced by previous experience and learning, wherein perception is dependent on what the mind have previously known and conceived about the stimuli (Noà «, 2004). Thus, the mind has a sort of schema that guides the mind in identifying the stimuli presented to him/her. It is also interesting to note that perception as with everything else is shaped by the social and cultural context in which it occurs. In a conservative culture, same sex marriages may be perceived as immoral and abnormal, but to cultures who have endorsed homosexuality do not perceive it as such. In another example, a Catholic whenever he sees a cross or a church would surely make the sign on the cross while a Protestant or a Baptist would not. In order to illustrate the difference between the two approaches to perception the following examples are provided. Bottom-up The ability to appreciate an abstract painting is an example of the bottom-up approach. The individual viewing the painting do not have any idea what the painting is and what it depicts. The mind then processes the painting in terms of the different color gradients, shapes, spatial characteristics and then tries to present a coherent whole that the mind can understand (Marr, 1982). Thus, an abstract painting can be interpreted in different ways since the viewer may manipulate the different strokes, colors and lines to form an object or a figure that is pleasing to the eye. However, our perception of what the abstract painting represents can be affected by the cultural orientation of the perceiver. A person coming from a very structured environment may find the abstract painting worthless as he cannot understand it for it lacked structure, while a person who is very open-minded may find the painting a challenge since it makes him think. Top-down The famous expression â€Å"looking for a needle in a haystack† is an example of the top-down approach. The expression is meant to convey difficulty in finding a specific object or person, but when we look at it cognitively, it is not that difficult. The person who must find the needle already have a concept of what the needle looks like, it is thin, shiny and has a sharp edge (Gregory, 1990). This information could have been formed during previous encounters with a needle, thus the task becomes easier because the person has to focus only on one thing, and that is the needle. He/she may eliminate the hay straws since they do not look like a needle. However, it would have been a different scenario if the person tasked with finding the needle has not had any experience with a needle, an example is Sleeping Beauty. Due to the banishment of the spindle in her kingdom, she did not know what it looked like and hence she got pricked by one and was placed on a spell. Similarly, culture shock may also be caused by the lack of prior experience or knowledge of what the new culture will be like, hence the individual is overwhelmed with the new stimulus. Bottom-up and Top-down The perceptual process involved in the perception of an object embedded in the background includes the bottom-up and top-down approach. The person directed to find   the objects hidden in the picture will first look at the picture and then analyze its characteristics and what it represents then he/she will look for the shapes, lines or a shift in color or depth (bottom-up) to determine where the hidden objects might be found. When the person has found the hidden object and identifies what it is, he/she then proceeds to look for the other objects guided by the knowledge of what the object would be (top-down). If the hidden object is as universal as a face, then identifying it would not be difficult, but if it were an obscure figure like a zodiac sign, then only those who have had prior knowledge of zodiacs would be able to find the hidden object. References    Gregory, R. L. (1990). How do we interpret images? In H. Barlow C. Blakemore M. Weston-Smith (Eds.), Images and Understanding, Thoughts About Images, Ideas About Understanding (pp. 310-330). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Marr, D. (1982).  Ã‚  Vision.  Ã‚   New York:  W. H. Freeman and Sons. Noà «, A. (2004).   Action in Perception, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

The Origin, Distribution and Classification of Cultivated Broccoli Vari

The Origin, Distribution and Classification of Cultivated Broccoli Varieties Of the many different vegetable crops now under cultivation in both the U.S. and abroad, one that has gained increasing importance is that of broccoli. Although it does not constitute a significant portion of most people's diets, it has nevertheless experienced a kind of "revival" in recent years and has become increasingly popular (Schery, 1972; Heywood, 1978). It may even be said that broccoli has emerged from relative obscurity and attained the status of a worthwhile garden vegetable,"(Talbert, 1953). The botanical family to which broccoli belongs is the Brassicaceae, also known as the Mustard family. The Brassicaceae is a large family comprised of approximately 3,000 described species apportioned among 350-380 genera. The precise number of genera will vary depending on the authority(Heywood, 1978; Keil & Walters, 1988). The classification scheme for broccoli and indeed all of the other brassicas is clear and straightforward until one reaches the species level. At that point the addition of numerous subspecies, varieties, and cultivars results in a rather complex and confusing arrangement of-the taxa in question. For example, the scientific name for broccoli, Brassica oleracea (L.), is also shared by cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and tronchuda kale, to name a few. Despite the fact that all of the aforementioned varieties are similar to one another and to broccoli, and are therefore referred to as B. oleracea, they are neverthele ss separate entities. Most authorities today consider there are two major varieties of broccoli, B. oleracea (L.) var. botrytis or cauliflower broccoli and B. oleracea ... ... Heywood, V.H. 1978. Flowering Plants of the World. Mayflower Books, New York. Narain, A. 1974. Rape and mustard. pp. 67-70. In J. Hutchinson (ed.), Evolutionary Studies in World Crops: Diversity and Change in the Indian Subcontinent. Cambridge University Press, London. Schery, R.W. 1972. Plants for Man. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs. Snogerup, S. 1980. The Wild Forms of the Brassica oleracea Group and Their Possible Relations to the Cultivated Ones. pp. 121-132. In C. Gomez-Campo, K. Hinata & S. Tsunoda (eds.), Brassica Crops and Wild Allies: Biology and Breeding. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo. Talbert, T.J. 1953. Growing Fruit and Vegetable Crops. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. Terrell, E.E. 1977. A Checklist of Names for 3,000 Vascular Plants of Economic Importance. U.S. Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 505, pp. 21-22.

What happened to the Mt Helen?

Mount St. Helens, located in southwestern Washington about 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, is one of many volcanic peaks that dominate the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest; the range extends from Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia, Canada, to Lassen Peak in northern California. Geologists call Mount St. Helens a composite volcano (or stratovolcano), a term for steep sided, often symmetrical cones constructed of alternating layers of lava flows, ash, and other volcanic debris. Composite volcanoes tend to erupt explosively and pose considerable danger to nearby life and property. In contrast, the gently sloping shield volcanoes, such as those in Hawaii, typically erupt nonexplosively, producing fluid lavas that can flow great distances from the active vents. Although Hawaiian-type eruptions may destroy property, they rarely cause death or injury. Before 1980, snow-capped, gracefully symmetrical Mount St. Helens was known as the â€Å"Fujiyama of America.† Mount St. Helens, other active Cascade volcanoes, and those of Alaska form the North American segment of the circum-Pacific â€Å"Ring of Fire,† a notorious zone that produces frequent, often destructive, earthquake and volcanic activity. (1) Basic Data Location: South central Washington State (Cowlitz County). Latitude: 46 °20†² N Longitude: 122 °18†² W. Type:Stratovolcano Size comparison: Mt. St. Helens is the smallest of the five major volcanoes in Washington State, and also the youngest of these. It's last eruption was 123 years earlier. Elevation : 9,677 feet before; 8,363 feet after; 1,314 feet removed Main Eruption: May 18, 1980, 8:32 a.m. (Pacific time) Pyroclastic flow speed : at least 300 miles per hour (some material traveled much faster). Pyroclastic flow temperature : As high as 1,300 degrees F (700 degrees C) Energy released: 24 megatons thermal energy (7 by blast, rest through release of heat); 50 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic blast. Landslide note : The landslide is the World's largest recorded event EVER! Ash plume height : Reached about 80,000 feet in less than 15 minutes Ash cloud dispersal : Spread across U.S. in 3 days; circled Earth in 15 days. Deaths : At least 60-65 persons, and thousands of animals, birds, and insects.(2) On May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook Mount St. Helens, releasing an enormous burst of energy, instantly transforming a peaceful wilderness into a hellish landscape. As soon as the eruption was over, the process of rebirth and renewal began. The mountain is still in the spotlight after 20 years. Come and see the story of this amazing wonder of nature in this commemorative of the anniversary of the day that chaos reigned. October 1, 2004: Mount St. Helens Activity Increases. We probably will not see an event to match the 1980 eruptions of this now-famous volcano, but recent activity has intensified and researchers are watching closely. What did we learn from it? We can learn some facts from it.(1) An active volcano can be destructive at any point of time. So you have to be very careful about that. (2) You just can not predict what exactly going to happen in nature. (3) We should except one thing: what ever we have achieved in science and technology or whatever, â€Å" NATURE IS THE BOSS AND WILL ALWAYS BE† Why earth science is important to people? Earth science affects all our lives. Our landscape has been shaped by natural processes such as tectonics, weathering, and biological activity over billions of years. We use natural materials everyday, everything from building stone and oil to metals such as iron, copper and gold, and even diamonds have all been extracted from the ground. Natural hazards such as volcanoes, earthquakes, floods and droughts can dramatically affect lives. Earth science is the study of all these processes, put simply it is the study of our planet. Understanding how our planet works is essential if we are to properly manage our environment, and if we are to predict how the environment will change in the future. Earth scientists can monitor changes in our environment, model our impact on the environment and suggest solutions to our environmental problems. Environmental issues being studied by earth scientists include, the effects of water extraction from our rivers, the distribution of pollutants in the landscape and the environmental impact of industrial activity, such as mining and landfill. Natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes and floods are responsible for many deaths, and for the loss of many more homes and livelihoods. Increased knowledge of natural hazards will improve predictions of the occurrence and scale of these potentially life threatening events, giving people a chance to prepare.(4) REFERENCES: (1) The history of Mt Helen is taken from http://www.weathersage.com/storms/mthelen/ sited on May 18,2007 (2) Basic data of Mt Helen is taken from http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/msh.html sited on May 18,2007 (3) Why earth science is important to people? Is taken from http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/areas/earth/importance.asp sited on May 18,2007            

Advisor vs. Adviser How to Choose the Right Word

Much like toward and towards, the words advisor and adviser often pose some common conundrums: Do the two different, but correct, spellings of the same word convey subtly different meanings? And even if both are technically correct, is one more â€Å"appropriate† than the other in certain circumstances? Both advisor and adviser are examples of a category of nouns called agent nouns—nouns that refer to someone or something that performs the action of a verb and typically end in either â€Å"or† or â€Å"er,† like â€Å"worker† or â€Å"detector.† So, even though a person who writes is a writer, a person who dances is a dancer, and a person who wanders is a wanderer, a person who advises can be an adviser or an advisor. If their meaning is the same, how do you decide whether to use advisor or adviser? While both spellings are acceptable, both are not equally preferred. How to Use Advisor Both advisor and adviser refer to one who advises or gives advice to others. Advisor with the -or ending, is of Latin origin. Often, youll see this spelling used in more formal contexts, government, job titles, or academic work. Advisor is more heavily used, both in titles and otherwise, in scholarly and academic texts throughout the English-speaking world. This may be due to the fact that the -or suffix is commonly used with verbs that have a Latin origin. There is a largely unproven theory that due to its origin, advisor denotes a more â€Å"formal† tone than adviser, thus making it better suited for use in academic writing. The Virginia Tech University Style Guide, for example, recommends the use of advisor, as it is â€Å"used more commonly in academe,† adding that â€Å"adviser is acceptable in releases going to organizations that follow AP [Associated Press] style.† Although adviser is the heavily preferred spelling outside of North America, in the United States and Canada, advisor is often used as part of official job titles such as â€Å"financial advisor† or â€Å"academic advisor.† Advisor also appears to be preferred by the U.S. government, as in national security advisor and veterans preference advisor. Again, however, this is a preference, not a rule, as adviser is often used in titles too. How to Use Adviser The word adviser, ending with -er is of English origin. Overall, there appears to be a preference for the use of adviser in English. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, adviser appears more often than advisor. As a result, English-language usage guides, such as Garner’s Modern American Usage, list adviser as the recommended—but not mandatory—spelling, with advisor as a variant. However, the Associated Press Stylebook requires adviser. Both forms of the word first appeared in English texts written between 1605 and 1615. However, it is believed that adviser had been commonly used for several years before advisor first appeared, perhaps contributing to its wider range of acceptance today. Examples Following are a couple of examples of the word in use: On dorm move-in day, freshmen will meet the resident adviser (RA), who will help the students acclimate to their new home.As you approach retirement, you should meet with a financial advisor periodically to keep your money properly diversified. As stated, the words are interchangeable in meaning, so there are generally no negative ramifications in using either one—unless youre following a particular style guide in your work or are in a regulatory environment. Financial planning consultant Bob Veres told Investment News, Whenever I see someone spell adviser with an e, I know its a securities attorney or an industry lobbyist who specializes in the SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission], because the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 spells the term that way. A couple of additional examples: The presidents national security adviser informed him of the current situation.President Obama named Susan Rice to the post of national security advisor. If youre writing an article for a newspaper or magazine that follows AP style, use the more common adviser, according to the stylebooks entry for the generic word usage. But if youre referring to a persons company-conferred job title, defer to the companys spelling of the word. How to Remember the Difference Fortunately, you dont have to remember the difference between the two words because they mean the same thing. Just be aware of the preference of whomever youre writing for or how a persons title is noted in his or her official job description. Because neither adviser nor advisor is grammatically wrong, usage of the two words really comes down to a matter of choice, with a caveat. They should be used consistently. With few exceptions, they shouldnt both be used in the same document. Exceptions to Consistency Those few exceptions to consistency in a single document include usage in proper names and titles and in quotations. When used in proper names and titles, adviser and advisor should always be spelled as they are in the title. In the president’s â€Å"Council of Economic Advisers,† for example, use of advisor would be incorrect. Similarly, when quoting text from another document, adviser and advisor should be spelled as they are in the source. One Rule: Adviser as an Adjective Although adviser is the generally preferred spelling when the word is used as a noun, the adjectival form of adviser is correctly spelled advisory. For example: As a noun: I work as an adviser for my company.As an adjective: I will be working for the firm in an advisory capacity. This may contribute to the confusion surrounding adviser vs. advisor. However, while either adviser or advisor can be used in most cases, advisory is the only correct adjectival spelling. Advisery isn’t even a word. Sources â€Å"Adviser.†Ã‚  Associated Press Stylebook, www.apstylebook.com/ap_stylebook/adviser.â€Å"Adviser | Definition of Adviser in English by Oxford Dictionaries.†Ã‚  Oxford Dictionaries | English, Oxford Dictionaries, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/adviser.Benjamin, Jeff. â€Å"Adviser or Advisor? The Debate Rages On.†Ã‚  InvestmentNews - The Investing News Source for Financial Advisers, 19 Mar. 2017, www.investmentnews.com/article/20170319/FREE/170319931/adviser-or-advisor-the-debate-rages-on.Garner, Bryan A.  Garners Modern American Usage. Oxford University Press, 2009. â€Å"University Style Guide.†Ã‚  VT Virginia Tech, vt.edu/brand/resources/university-style-guide.html.