| Abstract: | Conventional Müller-Lyer and modified Müller-Lyer (without 'perspective' cues) illusions were presented to two samples of children aged between eight and 19, matched in education, but living in 'carpentered' and 'uncarpentered' environments in Zambia. Traditional differences in susceptibility have been obtained with both the variations of the Müller-Lyer illusion. In view of the lack of perspective cues in one of these, it is concluded that the perspective theory as presented within the 'carpentered world hypothesis' is inadequate. Since these differences are intra-cultural, they also do not support the hypothesis which suggests that cross-cultural variations in illusion susceptibility are due to genetic factors--such as macular (or retinal) pigmentation. |
