A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

What conclusion was drawn about the development of depth perception in humans and animals?

1. It is learned only after extensive mobility

2. It varies significantly from species to species

3. It is innate and develops prior to mobility onset

4. It is influenced primarily by social interactions

The correct answer is: It is innate and develops prior to mobility onset

The conclusion that depth perception is innate and develops prior to mobility onset aligns with a considerable body of research in developmental psychology and perception studies. This perspective is supported by findings that suggest newborns and infants already exhibit some degree of depth perception, even before they begin to crawl or walk. Studies using visual cliff experiments demonstrate that infants show hesitation to cross visually perceived cliffs, indicating an inherent ability to perceive depth and distance. This innate capability suggests that depth perception is not solely a learned behavior contingent on mobility; rather, it emerges early in development, suggesting an evolutionary advantage to being able to gauge space and avoid potential dangers, such as falls. This position is strengthened by research in animals, where similar innate capabilities in assessing depth are observed across various species, indicating a biological basis for depth perception that is not entirely reliant on experience or learned behaviors after mobility develops. This view contrasts sharply with the other options, which either imply learning post-mobility or suggest significant variation among species, which is not as strongly supported by the research regarding innate perceptual abilities.