scholarly journals On the Evolution of a Radical Concept: Affordances According to Gibson and Their Subsequent Use and Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isis Chong ◽  
Robert W. Proctor
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Perception And Action ◽  
Ecological Psychology ◽  
Direct Perception ◽  
Original Intention ◽  
Fields Of Study ◽  
Perception Action

James J. Gibson, the founder of ecological psychology, introduced a radical empiricist approach to perception and action centered on direct perception in naturalistic environments that was counter to popular representational views of his time. This direct perception approach and the associated introduction of the affordance concept have been extremely influential in several fields of study. However, since its inception, the affordance concept has evolved in a manner such that it now deviates significantly from Gibson’s original intention. This review follows use of the affordance concept by four sets of influential experimental psychologists: Gibson, Donald Norman, Mike Tucker and Rob Ellis, and Daniel Bub and Michael Masson. Particular attention is paid to the manner in which they applied the concept and the contributions provided by each set of researchers. The primary goal of this review is to determine what cognitive psychologists can take away from developments within the field and what considerations should be taken into account when using the term affordance. Having a more thorough understanding of the factors that led to the concept of affordance and its recent reformulations will better equip cognitive psychologists and, by extension, human factors researchers to further advance the study of perception–action relations.

Perception-action as reciprocal, continuous, and prospective

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey B. Wagman
Keyword(s):  
Perception And Action ◽  
Ecological Psychology ◽  
Delay Compensation ◽  
Compensation Mechanisms ◽  
Perception Action

AbstractFrom the perspective of ecological psychology, perception and action are not separate, linear, and mechanistic processes that refer to the immediate present. Rather, they are reciprocal and continuous and refer to the impending future. Therefore, from the perspective of ecological psychology, delays in perception and action are impossible, and delay compensation mechanisms are unnecessary.

The common structure is the affordance in the ecology

1999 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Treffner
Keyword(s):  
Perception And Action ◽  
Categorical Perception ◽  
Information Gathering ◽  
Direct Perception ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Mutual Benefit ◽  
Common Structure ◽  
The Common ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Perception Action

Millikan's discussion of substance concepts in terms of their information-gathering role ignores the analyses of information-based perception and action developed within the tradition of ecological psychology. Her introduction and use without definition of key Gibsonian terms such as “affordance” and “direct perception” leaves those of us investigating such concepts uncertain of the extent to which she appreciates their theoretical importance. Due recognition of the realist account of categorical perception developed by J. J. Gibson would provide mutual benefit to modern externalist philosophy as well as to experimental psychology and to those investigating the ecological approach to perception–action.

Improving Precision Vertical Flight Operations through a Direct-Perception-Action Display

2009 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 1270-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Cummings ◽  
Cristin A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Direct Perception ◽  
Flight Operations ◽  
Perception Action

Theory of event coding: Interesting, but underspecified

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Oriet ◽  
Biljana Stevanovski ◽  
Pierre Jolicoeur
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Perception And Action ◽  
Theory Of Event Coding ◽  
Perception Action ◽  
New Framework

The Theory of Event Coding (TEC) is a new framework for understanding interactions between perception and action. We are concerned that the theory is underspecified, showing that it can easily be used to make exactly opposite predictions. Precise specification of the time course of activation and binding is needed to make the theory useful for understanding the perception-action interface.

scholarly journals A experiência perceptual na perspectiva da teoria da percepção direta

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233
Author(s):  
Mariana Claudia Broens
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Perceptual Experience ◽  
Ecological Psychology ◽  
Direct Perception ◽  
Internal Representations ◽  
Skilled Action

The objective of this paper is to analyse the concept of skilful action underlying the studies of perceptual experience, especially the visual one, from the perspective of the theory of direct perception. The problem we propose to investigate can be formulated as follows: what are the possible contributions of the concept of affordance to understand the nature of skilful actions generally attributed to processes resulting from internal representations or mental models? In particular, we will try to investigate to what extent the concept of social affordance (as a possibility of action that the bodies of the organisms offer directly to other organisms) can help to understand aspects of complex skilful actions that involve capacities considered as deriving from the possession of a Theory of Mind. We will try to show that the perspective of the ecological psychology of direct perception (Gibson 1986, Turvey 1992, Petrusz & Turvey 2010) allows to understand aspects of human skilled action, especially of a collaborative nature, from a conception of perceptual experience that involves information intrinsically significant.

How specific and common is common coding?

2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 903-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andries F. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Perception And Action ◽  
Direct Perception ◽  
Human Information Processing ◽  
Common Coding ◽  
Event Code ◽  
Target Article ◽  
The Common ◽  
Action Coupling

This commentary addresses three points. First, it is argued that the common coding principles, as developed in the target article, may supplement rather than replace stage views of human information processing. Second, the issue of the properties of an event code is briefly discussed. It is concluded that much remains to be specified so as to allow critical tests. Finally, the question of the limits of common coding is raised. It may be particularly relevant to direct perception and action coupling but less useful for the analysis of cognitive skills.

scholarly journals Ecological approach to perception and action: Fundaments for motor behavior

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sérgio T. Fonseca ◽  
Christina D. C. M. Faria ◽  
Juliana M. Ocarino ◽  
Marisa C. Mancini
Keyword(s):  
Perception And Action ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Direct Perception ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Direct Realism ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Philosophical Standpoint ◽  
Human Motor

The objective of the present study is to introduce the philosophical position and the core concepts of the Ecological Approach to Perception and Action, emphasizing its principles and its uniqueness in relation to other theories related to motor behavior. The Ecological Approach, as opposed to other approaches, assumes the direct realism as its philosophical standpoint. Thus, the Ecological Approach to Perception and Action proposes the concepts of specificity, direct perception and affordance. By assuming the direct realism, the Ecological Approach to Perception and Action commits to the mutuality animal  environment and perception and action, and proposes that the dualism, commonly found in other theories, does not contribute to the understanding of human motor behavior. The choice of a given theory, during the process of scientific investigation, implies in a commitment to the philosophical views and to the principles and assumptions in which it is based. The knowledge about the core concepts of the Ecological Approach may support the decision making process about accepting or rejecting the ideas advanced by James Gibson and, consequently, direct the use of this theory to the development of investigations on perception and action.

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