Abstract
We argue that the experimental conditions in the Durgin et al. (2009) study were so different from those in Bhalla and Proffitt (1999) that the results of the former study cannot be generalized to the latter. The participants in the Durgin et al. study viewed a 2-m-long ramp; those in Bhalla and Proffitt viewed expansive hills. When drawing generalizations from one study to another, equating experimental conditions is always important; moreover, from an embodied perspective on perception, equating the opportunities for action also matters.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bhalla, M., & Proffitt, D. R. (1999). Visual—motor recalibration in geographical slant perception. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 25, 1076–1096.
Creem, S. H., & Proffitt, D. R. (1998). Two memories for geographical slant: Separation and interdependence of action and awareness. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 5, 22–36.
Durgin, F. H., Baird, J. A., Greenburg, M., Russell, R., Shaughnessy, K., & Waymouth, S. (2009). Who is being deceived? The experimental demands of wearing a backpack. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 16, 964–969.
Fajen, B. R. (2007). Rapid recalibration based on optic flow in visually guided action. Experimental Brain Research, 183, 61–74. doi:10.1007/s00221-007-1021-1
Linkenauger, S. A., Witt, J. K., Bakdash, J. Z., Stefanucci, J. K., & Proffitt, D. R. (in press). Asymmetrical body perception: A possible role for neural body representations. Psychological Science.
Linkenauger, S. A., Witt, J. K., Stefanucci, J. K., Bakdash, J. Z., & Proffitt, D. R. (in press). The effects of handedness and reachability on perceived distance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance.
Lourenco, S. F., & Longo, M. R. (2009). The plasticity of near space: Evidence for contraction. Cognition, 112, 451–456. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2009.05.011
Proffitt, D. R. (2006). Embodied perception and the economy of action. Perspectives in Psychological Science, 1, 110–122. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6916.2006.00008.x
Proffitt, D. R. (2008). An action-specific approach to spatial perception. In R. L. Klatzky, M. Behrmann, & B. MacWhinney (Eds.), Embodiment, ego-space, and action (pp. 179–202). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Proffitt, D. R., Bhalla, M., Gossweiler, R., & Midgett, J. (1995). Perceiving geographical slant. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2, 409–428.
Schnall, S., Zadra, J. R., & Proffitt, D. R. (2009). Direct evidence for the economy of action: Glucose and the perception of geographical slant. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Witt, J. K., & Proffitt, D. R. (2008). Action-specific influences on distance perception: A role for motor simulation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 34, 1479–1492. doi:10.1037/a0010781
Witt, J. K., Proffitt, D. R., & Epstein, W. (2005). Tool use affects perceived distance, but only when you intend to use it. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception & Performance, 31, 880–888. doi:10.1037/0096-1523.31.5.880
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Proffitt, D.R. Affordances matter in geographical slant perception. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 16, 970–972 (2009). https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.16.5.970
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.16.5.970