AP Psychology Practice Test

What does a perceptual set enable us to do?

1. Focus on specific stimuli in the environment

2. Perceive one thing and not another

3. Set goals for perceptual learning

4. Create set patterns in visual art

The correct answer is: Perceive one thing and not another

A perceptual set refers to a mental predisposition to perceive one thing rather than another. It allows individuals to organize and interpret sensory input based on their expectations, prior experiences, and context, which can significantly influence their perception. When we have a perceptual set, we are essentially primed to notice certain aspects of our environment while filtering out others. This phenomenon is essential for navigating complex sensory environments and helps streamline our cognitive processing by directing attention to what we are conditioned or expect to see. In the context of the other options, focusing on specific stimuli or setting goals for perception may occur as a result of a perceptual set, but these are not its primary functions. Additionally, creating patterns in visual art doesn’t align with the psychological concept of perceptual set, which is more about how we interpret and make sense of the sensory information around us.