Final answer:
We experience objects as a coherent whole through a process known as C)binding, supported by Gestalt principles like proximity, continuity, and closure. These principles show how we organize sensory information into meaningful wholes and how our perception is influenced by our perceptual hypotheses and expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, we experience objects around us as a coherent whole because of our ability to integrate sensory information. This process is known as binding. The Gestalt principles, including the principles of proximity, continuity, and closure, are central to understanding this phenomenon. These principles illustrate how we tend to perceive objects as complete, rather than as isolated parts, by organizing sensory information into meaningful wholes. One Gestalt principle, the figure-ground relationship, helps us differentiate a focal object from its background. Another principle, closure, details how we fill in missing parts of a visual stimulus to perceive a complete image. The integration of sensory inputs to create a unified perception is a fundamental aspect of human cognition.
Gestalt psychology, which posits that the whole is different from the sum of its parts, has provided a framework for discerning how we perceive patterns and organize sensory data. Perceptions are then influenced by our perceptual hypotheses, which are informed by factors such as personality, experience, and expectations. These contribute to our perceptual set, affecting how we interpret sensory information.