Ecological psychology is the scientific study of the relationship between perception and action, grounded in a direct-realist approach to perception. Influenced by the writings of Roger Barker and James J. Gibson, it stands in contrast to the explanations of perception offered by mainstream cognitive psychology, and it is primarily concerned with the interconnectedness of perception, action and dynamical systems. A key principle of the field is its rejection of the traditional separation of perception from action, emphasizing instead that the two are inseparable and interdependent.
Facts
Central QuestionWhether perception and action form a single, inseparable system grounded directly in an organism's relationship to its environment, rather than separate internal cognitive processes. 1 Key DebateWhether perception is best explained by ecological psychology's direct, information-based account grounded in the organism's environment, or by the mainstream cognitive psychology account that ecological psychology positions itself against. 1 Connections
Associated With
Her Visual Cliff studies of perception and affordances are foundational to ecological psychology.
Closely overlapping subfields studying how physical and natural settings shape behavior and perception.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Ecological psychology
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence
Ecological psychology is the scientific study of the relationship between perception and action, grounded in a direct realist approach.
Lead section, second sentence
This school of thought is heavily influenced by the writings of Roger Barker and James J. Gibson and stands in contrast to the mainstream explanations of perception offered by cognitive psychology.
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