James Gibson

James Gibson was a psychologist best known for developing the ecological approach to perception, which emphasizes how humans and animals directly perceive their environment through available sensory information. He proposed that perception is active and involves detecting "affordances," or the opportunities for action that objects and surroundings provide, without needing complex mental processing. Gibson's work highlighted that perception is about understanding what the environment offers in terms of potential actions, allowing us to navigate and interact effectively with the world around us. His insights have influenced fields like psychology, design, and robotics, emphasizing the importance of real-world context in perception.