THE IMPORTANCE OF ORIENTING ATTITUDES IN THE PERCEPTION OF THE HERINGAND ZOLLNER ILLUSIONS

By analyzing descriptions of illusory and nonillusory figures, Richer (1978) called into question the common assumption that illusory and no nillusory perceptions were experientially the same and differed only i n terms of their accuracy. The present study attempted to replicate Ri cher's work with a focus on identifying within the subjects' descripti ons any orienting attitudes corresponding to these two forms of percep tion. Nineteen student volunteers were asked to describe two illusory figures (the Hering and the Zollner figures) and a nonillusory control of similar complexity. The descriptions revealed consistent differenc es between the two forms. However, the Hering and Zollner figures were not always described in illusory terms, and surprisingly, several sub jects described the control as if it were illusory. Further, perceptua l accuracy was not guaranteed by nonillusory experience. Subjects desc ribed the figures from within one of three different orienting attitud es-atomizing, representational, and geometrical-organizing. The latter attitude appeared necessary for the phenomena of illusory perception and experience. Though the present findings confirmed Richer's distinc tion between illusory and nonillusory experience, they also indicate t he need for further differentiation - illusory perception versus illus ory experience. Finally, the findings also supported Luria's (1976) an d Segall, Campbell, and Herskovits's (1966) position on the importance of particular cultural and educational experiences and codes in relat ion to perceptual illusions.