direct perception theory

Direct perception theory suggests that we perceive the world directly through our senses without needing complex mental processing or intermediate steps. Instead of interpreting sensory information through mental constructs or assumptions, this view holds that the environment provides rich, lawful clues—called affordances—that our perceptual systems pick up immediately. For example, a staircase’s slope and texture directly inform us whether it’s climbable. This theory emphasizes that perception is an active, direct process where meaningful information about objects and their use is available openly, enabling us to interact effectively with our surroundings.