Posted on 01/06/2006 3:07:02 PM PST by blam
Humans Do Not Understand Mirror Reflections, Say Researchers
General Science : December 21, 2005 Newsletter
Psychologists at the University of Liverpool have found that people still find it difficult to understand how mirrors work.
Dr Marco Bertamini, from the University’s School of Psychology, conducted a number of experiments by covering a mirror on a wall and inviting participants to walk along a line parallel to the mirror.
He asked them to guess the point at which they would be able to see their reflection. Results showed that people believe they can see themselves even before they are level with the near edge of the mirror.
Dr Bertamini said: “People tend not to understand that the location of the viewer matters in terms of what is visible in a mirror. A good example of this is what we call the Venus Effect, which relates to the many famous paintings of the goddess Venus, looking in a small mirror.
“If you were to look at these paintings, you would assume that Venus is admiring her own face, because you see her face in the mirror. Your viewpoint, however, is rather different from hers; if you can see her in the mirror then she would see you in the mirror.”
Participants were also asked to estimate the image size of their head as it appears on the surface of the mirror. They estimated that it would be a similar size to their physical head. However, participants based their answer on the image they saw inside the mirror rather than on the image on the surface of it. They failed to recognise that the image on the surface of the mirror is half the size of the observer because a mirror is always halfway between the observer and the image that appears inside the mirror.
Dr Bertamini added: “Mirrors make us see virtual objects that exist in a virtual world; they are windows onto this world. On the one hand we trust what we see, but on the other hand this is a world that we know has no physical existence. This is one of the reasons why throughout history people have been fascinated by mirrors.”
Source: the University of Liverpool
Good point.
Yes. Vampires do not form reflections and do not cast shadows, or, alternatively [but infrequently] appear as reflections or shadows without any visible obiect to form such a reflection or cast the shadow. It is further known that they are aware of it, from which it follows that they couldn't see their own reflections as well.
Music is like that, too. Heard that the wife of the miner that is in a coma has bought some recordings to play for him while he is laid up in the hopes that he can hear it and it will aid his recovery. It might. She was going to pick up some country music, but opted for Metallica as being more suited to the task at hand. Can you imagine if Metallica brings him back? We can talk about Metallica as if it exists even while it is not playing.
Have it on good authority that they know we cannot see their reflections. They also know we think they cannot cross running water or that garlic keeps them away or that they cannot enter a house without being invited. Sneaky sobs.
Yeah, that'll be a big help. Thanks a lot.
Just call me Mr. Helpful...
I need a bumper sticker that reads: "I divide by zero...pray for me!"
More idiots that couldn't make a living in the outside world testing idiots so they can get more government money.
better be careful... that usually results in a Stack Overflow!!!
Why use a politician psychologist for this? Why not simply put engineers and scientists in control of education? nah, that would too practical and efficient, these people would hurt the stupid kids' feelings..
Uh... Somebody was looking for a thesis topic in the psychology department?
What do I win?
It just shows that some are more equaler than others.
In the future we'll leave it to you to do the heavy lifting on these threads.
In the future we'll leave it to you to do the heavy lifting on these threads.
I should be so strong!
Well, if up was right, it'd be left in the mirror. This is because up and down is a specific absolute reference like North and South, while left and right are relative references.
And indeed, if right is south and left holds the sign North, it's still North and South in the mirror.
Hogwarts magic.
sorry... my bad. 8^)
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