Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP) Practice Test

Research indicates that the development of depth perception in infants emerges in which sequence?

1. Binocular, pictorial, kinetic

2. Kinetic, pictorial, binocular

3. Binocular, kinetic, pictorial

4. Kinetic, binocular, pictorial

The correct answer is: Kinetic, binocular, pictorial

The development of depth perception in infants occurs in a specific sequence that aligns with how they begin to acquire visual information from their environment. Kinetic cues, which involve the movement of objects and the movement of the observer, are typically the first indicators that infants use to perceive depth. They learn to gauge how far away objects are by the way they move relative to their own position. Following the understanding gained from kinetic cues, infants develop binocular cues. This involves the ability to perceive depth through the convergence of the eyes and the disparity between the images received by each eye. This binocular vision is crucial for more complex visual tasks as it allows for a more nuanced perception of depth. Pictorial cues come last in this developmental sequence. These cues, which include features like size, overlapping objects, and linear perspective, provide contextual depth information within a two-dimensional visual field. Although these cues are significant for depth perception, they are utilized after infants have established a foundation built on kinetic and binocular cues. Understanding this sequence is vital as it highlights the progressive nature of perceptual development in infants, showcasing how they use their sensory experiences to gradually refine their understanding of the three-dimensional world.