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Fiction - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Raj Bonsor

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In GCSE Psychology, “fiction" refers to a type of visual illusion in which we “see” features that are not actually present in the stimulus.

Certain shapes or patterns imply edges, contours, or objects, and the brain fills in the missing information, producing a false percept. A classic example is the Kanizsa triangle, where strategically placed “Pac-Man” circles and corner markers make us perceive a bright, solid triangle that has no physical outline at all.

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Raj Bonsor

Reviewer: Raj Bonsor

Expertise: Psychology & Sociology Content Creator

Raj joined Save My Exams in 2024 as a Senior Content Creator for Psychology & Sociology. Prior to this, she spent fifteen years in the classroom, teaching hundreds of GCSE and A Level students. She has experience as Subject Leader for Psychology and Sociology, and her favourite topics to teach are research methods (especially inferential statistics!) and attachment. She has also successfully taught a number of Level 3 subjects, including criminology, health & social care, and citizenship.

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