What are perceptual constancies?

Perceptual constancies refer to the phenomenon where our perception of an object remains relatively stable despite variations in sensory input due to changes in context, distance, or angle of view. This principle allows us to perceive objects as having constant characteristics, such as size, shape, and color, even when the sensory information we receive changes. For example, a door appears rectangular (shape constancy) even when viewed at an angle, and a red apple looks red regardless of the lighting conditions (color constancy).

Understanding perceptual constancies is essential because it highlights how our brain interprets sensory information to maintain a coherent understanding of the environment, enabling us to recognize and interact with objects consistently, despite the fluctuations in sensory input.