The Ride.....what does she look like???
Ever wonder how other people see you? Ever wonder why you look at photos and think “I don’t look like that!” Well here is something to ponder;
Take these photos; the first is a headshot, the second is a composite of 2 right sides of the face, while the third photo is a composite of 2 left sides. Which one looks more like the original?
Take these photos; the first is a headshot, the second is a composite of 2 right sides of the face, while the third photo is a composite of 2 left sides. Which one looks more like the original?
Well most would probably answer that the 2 right sides look more like the original.
But why is that?
Some basic neuroanatomy is all that is needed. It is fact that the left hemisphere of the brain is interested in linguistics and mathematics, while the right hemisphere is responsible for the processing of imagery and spatial perception. When we look at some one (facing them) the right side of their face ends up in our left visual field. Our left visual field then ends up in our right hemisphere. The image that we process and perceive is what the right hemisphere is telling us. So all that we really “see” is ones’ right side.
But to see yourself, we must look in a mirror. So to me I would say that I looked more like the composite of 2 left sides (not exactly true, otherwise I would have some major self confidence issues). When looking in a mirror I see back a reflection, so the left side of my face will end up in my left visual field and into my right hemisphere.
So you see, “what does she look like?” becomes in fact a meaningless question, as it has no concrete answer but is rather a dynamic interaction between an observer and that being observed. There is no objective observation, it is a process of perception. So next time you are looking through a photo album and a friend cringes and says “that doesn’t look like me” you can explain why they may think that.
Some basic neuroanatomy is all that is needed. It is fact that the left hemisphere of the brain is interested in linguistics and mathematics, while the right hemisphere is responsible for the processing of imagery and spatial perception. When we look at some one (facing them) the right side of their face ends up in our left visual field. Our left visual field then ends up in our right hemisphere. The image that we process and perceive is what the right hemisphere is telling us. So all that we really “see” is ones’ right side.
But to see yourself, we must look in a mirror. So to me I would say that I looked more like the composite of 2 left sides (not exactly true, otherwise I would have some major self confidence issues). When looking in a mirror I see back a reflection, so the left side of my face will end up in my left visual field and into my right hemisphere.
So you see, “what does she look like?” becomes in fact a meaningless question, as it has no concrete answer but is rather a dynamic interaction between an observer and that being observed. There is no objective observation, it is a process of perception. So next time you are looking through a photo album and a friend cringes and says “that doesn’t look like me” you can explain why they may think that.
Alison .Conecpts.Inc.
posted by Glen. @ 9:05 PM
1 comments
