Asked by Jessica Watkins on Jun 19, 2024
Verified
You are taking a hot bath, and you can just detect the difference between a water temperature of 100 and 102 degrees. This would indicate, according to the German physiologist E. H. Weber, that __________.
A) we are sensitive to changes on the order of 2 degrees
B) we are sensitive to proportional differences, in this instance, of 2%
C) we are geared to notice absolute differences, not percentage differences
D) our response criteria are not unreasonably high
Proportional Differences
Refers to the comparison of ratios or fractions, highlighting the relative difference in size or magnitude between two or more quantities.
E. H. Weber
A pioneering psychologist and physician known for his work in the somatosensory system and Weber's Law, which relates to the perceived change in a stimulus to its initial intensity.
Absolute Differences
The minimum amount by which two sensory stimuli can differ for an individual to perceive them as different.
- Describe the principles of absolute threshold and difference threshold, as well as their roles in understanding sensory perception.
Verified Answer
DZ
denisse zunigaJun 20, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Weber's law states that the just noticeable difference between two stimuli is proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli. In this case, the difference between 100 and 102 degrees represents a 2% change in temperature, which is consistent with Weber's law. Therefore, we are sensitive to proportional differences, not absolute differences.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the principles of absolute threshold and difference threshold, as well as their roles in understanding sensory perception.