Stevens' Power Law

Stevens' Power Law describes how our perception of a stimulus relates to the actual intensity of that stimulus. It states that the perceived intensity (how strong we feel something is) is proportional to the actual stimulus raised to a specific exponent. For example, our perception of brightness or weight doesn't increase linearly with the actual increase in light or weight; instead, it follows a predictable mathematical pattern. This law helps explain why small increases in some stimuli can seem much more or less noticeable, depending on the context. It provides a framework for understanding sensory perceptions across different senses.