Final answer:
The change in perception to "faces" from inanimate objects like "rocks" or "trees" is due to the brain's complex processing and interpretation of visual information, influenced by various factors including experience and culture, which actively constructs our perception of the world.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change in perception from "rocks in a stream" or "trees in a forest" to "faces" occurs because of our brain's ability to make complex inferences and construct meaning based on perceptions. Our perception can be influenced by a number of factors including beliefs, values, prejudices, expectations, and life experiences. This is particularly evident when viewing optical illusions or ambiguous images, where our brains may flip between seeing one image or another. The brain does not simply record visual information but processes it, often highlighting features that are relevant to survival. For example, in the checkerboard illusion, we might question whether horizontal lines are indeed parallel because of the brain's interpretation of visual cues.
Additionally, our perception is flexible and can adapt to new information, as seen in experiments where subjects learned to navigate an inverted visual field. This adaptability can sometimes lead to misperceptions, especially in the context of conservation where perceptions about the state of an ecosystem can influence actions. Thus, the brain is not just passively receiving information but actively constructing a representation of the world, based on what is deemed relevant for our interaction with the environment.