Linear Perspective - GCSE Psychology Definition

Reviewed by: Raj Bonsor

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Linear perspective is a visual trick used in drawings and paintings to show depth and distance, which makes flat images look three-dimensional.

In psychology, it's important because it helps us understand how our brains interpret the world around us. When you see two parallel lines, like train tracks, going off into the distance, they seem to come together at a point far away. This point is called the "vanishing point."

Linear perspective is a clue your brain uses to judge how far away things are, which is part of how we see and understand the space around us.

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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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