Gibsonian Theory

Gibsonian theory, developed by psychologist James J. Gibson, emphasizes that perception is direct and relies on real-time information from the environment. Instead of needing mental processing or interpretation, it suggests that we naturally pick up affordances—possible actions or uses—just by observing our surroundings. For example, a chair "affords" sitting, and we perceive this directly without consciously analyzing its features. This perspective highlights the environment’s role in guiding behavior and suggests that perception is an active process centered on how we interact with the world around us.