Установочный эффект у детей дошкольного и младшего школьного возраста, формируемый иллюзиями Понзо и Мюллера-Лайера

Introduction. A perceptual set is a specific psychological mechanism that shapes the perception of objects based on prior experience, current goals, and the conditions of perception. Previous studies have shown that both realistically different and illusorily distorted objects can create a perceptual set effect in adults. The aim of this study is to experimentally verify the formation of the perceptual set effect in children using the Müller-Lyer and Ponzo illusions, in comparison with the presentation of segments that differ in length. Methods. The sample consisted of 26 children with an average age of 6.45 years. The stimulus material was presented in three series: real-different segments (with actual size differences), the Ponzo illusion, and the Müller-Lyer illusion. Each series included 10 setup stimuli and 5 pairs of equal segments to assess the perceptual set effect. Prior to the main experiment, all children underwent diagnostics of visual perception maturity and were divided into two groups based on their level of visual perception constancy maturity. Results. Statistical analysis of the experimentally obtained data revealed a perceptual set effect in children with a high level of visual perception constancy maturity, observed in both the series with real-different segments and the Müller-Lyer illusion. Children with low constancy maturity did not exhibit a perceptual set effect. The Ponzo illusion did not produce a perceptual set effect in either group of children. Discussion. The results obtained should be regarded as new evidence supporting the idea that the Ponzo and Müller-Lyer illusions belong to distinct categories of illusions.