Final answer:
The recognition by components theory states that we recognize objects by breaking them down into basic shapes called geons, which stands in contrast to other theories of object recognition. This process involves top-down processing where expectations and experiences influence recognition. Our brain disassembles objects into geons and then reassembles them to form a complete perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recognition by components theory posits that we can recognize an object by breaking it down into geons. This theory is rooted in cognitive psychology and stands in contrast to other theories of object recognition, such as those that rely on analyzing surface features, matching to a stored template, or focusing on global shape.
According to the recognition by components theory, developed by Irving Biederman in 1987, objects are composed of basic three-dimensional shapes that he termed 'geons' for 'geometric ions'. These geons are simple volumetric shapes such as cones, spheres, and cylinders. When we perceive an object, our visual system breaks it down into these basic shapes, which can be combined in various ways to form every object we can recognize.
This theory aligns with top-down processing, where previous experience and expectations are used first to recognize stimuli. Our perception is not solely the product of the stimuli that directly hit our senses; rather, it also involves our perception hypotheses, perceptions formed by our personalities, experiences, and expectations. For example, pattern perception, a key aspect of visual processing, often follows principles where parts of a stimulus are grouped according to similarity, and objects are perceived as wholes rather than just a collection of parts.
Top-down processing is illustrated when we watch a football game and group individuals by the colors of their uniforms, tapping into the principle of similarity. Similarly, understanding complex entities, be it a government or a cell, often involves enumerating parts and understanding their relationship to the whole. In the case of the recognition by components theory, we can deduce that as we break down an object into geons, our brain then puts these components back together to form our perception of the object as a whole.