The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception

The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception, developed by psychologist James J. Gibson, emphasizes that perception is about understanding the environment and how we interact with it. Instead of seeing vision as just processing images, this theory suggests that we perceive things based on their functional significance—how they can be used or acted upon. For example, we recognize a tree not just as an object but as something we can climb or seek shade from. This approach highlights the importance of the relationship between the observer and their surroundings in shaping how we perceive the world.