A 'psychological' optical illussion - the power of the mind to creat (or distort) what we see [Picture]

This is an amazing example of the power of the human mind to create meaning from our subconscious and our memories.

I shall be using this optical illusion when I next teach my first year students to consider how powerful their own tacit perceptions, memories, and socialization can be in warping their reading of Biblical texts (hence the need for good study tools and responsible exegesis if one is going to use the scriptures to teach, preach, offer advice and counsel to others).

Amazingly this discovery was first made by a Missionary in Malawi in the 1880's

The influence of culture and environment can have an effect on our visual perception. This theory was first explored by Robert Laws, a Scottish missionary working in Malawi, Africa, during the late 1800's. Take a look at the picture below. What you see will largely depend on where you live in the world. After you have examined the picture, scroll down for a more detailed explanation. So What Did You See?

What is above the woman's head? When scientists showed a similar sketch to people from East Africa, nearly all the participants in the experiment said she was balancing a box or metal can on her head. In a culture containing few angular visual cues, the family is seen sitting under a tree. Westerners, on the other hand, are accustomed to the corners and boxlike shapes of architecture. They are more likely to place the family indoors and to interpret the rectangle above the woman's head as a window through which shrubbery can be seen.


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