How do optical illusions uncover parts of our personality?
Hi everyone! For the third post of my inquiry project, I will be diving into the first step of my research question which was, how were optical illusions created? This question will allow me to branch out into understanding the foundation and history of optical illusions. More specifically, along with discovering how they were created, I want to also determine the why, the people who contributed and the evolution of their purpose to this day. This post is about comprehending the basics of optical illusions.
Optical illusions are both entertaining and puzzling. (1) While it is still debated today, many experts agree that the origin of optical illusions stem from Ancient Greece due to their art and architecture. One of their earliest art pieces were on the roofs of Greek temples. It may have been accidental but people noticed that even though the roofs were slanted, they appeared to be curved from anyone looking below. (1) This illusion intrigued many people including Greek Philosophers who wanted to decode such illusions. However, when optical illusions first arose, they were not meant to depict personalities or reveal one’s traits. People were simply baffled by them and couldn’t believe their eyes. (2) Their initial approach was to use
visual illusions as a method of understanding sy
mmetry and proportion for the use of architecture. (5) As well as investigating the perception of colour, light, and motion through their art. That is why it all stemmed from Greece, as one of their most famous, historical temples is the Great Parthenon. The utilization of optical illusions were a tool in many Ancient Greek architecture so that it would “seem” perfect to the naked eye.
(1) This leads into the first sight of optical illusions back when people couldn’t tell if their eyes were tricking them or if it was their brain misinterpreting it. (5) Many people tried to explain optical illusions yet failed. Furthermore, in Ancient Greece, optical illusions were first “officially” invented by Epicharmus and Portagorus in 450 B.C. But back then, people were just trying to explain what role our brain and eyes played when seeing illusions.
(3) They were initially illusions seen in the natural environment such as the motion of clouds. Today, optical illusions have been used for a variety of reasons and in helping the laws of colour, the perception of light. (3) The 19th century was the age of visual illusions because the science industry boomed in all areas. The invisible string connected all experiments was the use of our senses; which in turn, influenced ideas about illusions. As a modern definition, optical illusions are explained as images that distort reality or receive one’s perception.
Many scientists and even artists took to the phenomena of optical illusions. It was all presented under the physical category. (4) Until the 19th century, were new optical illusions were interpreted for the attention of mental and psychological purposes. This is how optical illusions became of great interest to psychologists. (2) So, when other types of illusions boomed, they classified optical illusions into three categories: literal, cognitive, and physiological. Under the discipline of psychoanalysis, optical illusions play a role in evaluating people’s personalities and to shed information on how an individual perceives things. So how WERE they created to level with their modern purpose today? (4) Optical illusions are seen through the internet as popular personality tests because many of them involve the effects of colour, light, and symmetry to assess how a person thinks and acts. And because they are able to tell us how the brain functions, not just through its anatomy, but through our subconscious, optical illusions are able to shed light on our hidden traits.
Despite the long, geometrical history of optical illusions, we can see that they have evolved into a larger role through the scientific approach. Thank you for reading!
References:
(1) HT School Web Desk. (2022, November 28). Optical illusions: Tracing their origin and evolution . HT School. Date Accessed: November 20, 2023. https://htschool.hindustantimes.com/editorsdesk/knowledge-vine/optical-illusions-tracing-their-origin-and-evolution#
(2) The Science of Optical Illusions –. (2018, January 25). Nasco-Education-Blog.com. https://nasco-education-blog.com/2018/01/25/the-science-of-optical-illusions/
(3) The age of illusions. (n.d.). BPS. https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/age-illusions
(4) Needy Or Patient? Optical Illusion Test Supposedly Reveals A Great Deal About Your Personality. (2023, April 12). TimesNow. https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/needy-or-patient-optical-illusion-test-supposedly-reveals-a-great-deal-about-your-personality-article-99431671
(5) Shashank Nakate. (2018). Unraveling the Extremely Mysterious History of Optical Illusions. ScienceStruck; ScienceStruck. https://sciencestruck.com/history-of-optical-illusions
My personal favourite optical illusion: the dress
