Does culture effect our visual perceptions of the world?

[cheerfulgreek]

At one time colonial missionaries in Africa believed that they observed differences in visual perception among different cultures. Since then other studies showed that North Americans pay more attention to objects in the foreground of a photograph, whereas Asians focus on the background. I'm not sure how true all of this is. I guess this would pretty much suggest a familiarity with socially complicated and interdependent situations. Who knows?

Are there perception differences? Are people from different cultures able to perform tasks in roughly the same amount of time, but if given tasks to perform that are not preferred by their culture, would it take more brain activity to finish the task?

For me, I think that rooting out cultural differences in perception would be really hard, if not, impossible.

I would like to read other opinions on this.

[RU OX Alum]

one of my brothers who was asian had this picture, a wave and a boat

the westerners noticed the wave first, as it was to the left and they start reading from that side

the asians he showed it to all noticed the boat

i was the only one that noticed the house in the middle, which is kind of in the background, which means i'm dyslexic

[Taualumna]

But what if you're North American educated person of Asian descent? What would you notice, or does it depend on how westernized your family is?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yes.

BTW: DUH

Seriously.

[RU OX Alum]

i think everyone missed the point of the OP

not perceptions of reality, as in, if you see a man running, is being chased vs. exorcising, but rather, do you notice his shoes first or his jacket

that might be cultural but maybe not

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

you see a man running, is being chased vs. exorcising

Nice

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

if you see a man running, is being chased vs. exorcising

I get joggers and exorcists confused all the damn time.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

But what if you're North American educated person of Asian descent? What would you notice, or does it depend on how westernized your family is?

culture not race.