Final answer:
Perceptual segregation is about distinguishing objects from their backgrounds, known as figure-ground segregation, which is influenced by cultural contexts. De facto and de jure segregation refer to the physical separation of groups, with or without enforcement by law, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
One approach to studying perceptual segregation is to consider the problem of figure-ground segregation. This concept is a key principle in Gestalt psychology, which deals with how people visually perceive objects as distinct from their background. Perceptual segregation involves distinguishing between the main object (figure) and the less important surrounding area (ground). Cultural factors can influence how we perceive segregation, with certain visual illusions being more prevalent in Western cultures compared to non-Western cultures due to the differing environmental features people are regularly exposed to, such as the straight lines of a carpentered world versus the round huts arranged in circles. De facto segregation and de jure segregation are two forms of segregation with profound social implications, referring to the physical separation of two groups in residence, workplace, and social functions. De jure segregation is enforced by law, whereas de facto segregation occurs without law enforcement but because of other factors, leading to continued separation of races and ethnicities even with racially neutral laws. An example of de jure segregation is the apartheid system previously found in South Africa.