Autokinetic effect

The auto kinetic effect is an optical illusion, in which small fixed light source, or a stationary point of light briefly presented in the visual field is perceived in an otherwise dark environment as moving. The perceived direction and the movement distance can vary greatly.

Causes

The perception of movement (or a stationary position ) is always in relation to a reference point; against a uniform, low-stimulus background lacking this reference point and the position of the light spot is not clear anchored. It is believed that involuntary eye movements (especially in fatigue ) play a role in the establishment of the effect - but the movement not experienced 1:1 meets the eye movements.

Autokinetischer effect on night flights

For night flights, pilots can get into a situation where they assign individual points of light in an otherwise black environment and localize correctly to ( for example, a light on the ground or a star ). The auto kinetic effect can give the illusion that this point belongs to another aircraft on a collision course. The risk factor here is to want to correct this apparent collision course.

Autokinetischer effect and expression adaptation

Since the autokinetic effect the perceived movement of a light spot has no objective basis, it is well suited for the study of opinion formation in groups. Muzafer Sherif had 1935 participants assessed in an experiment this movement and share the judgment, either alone or in a group context. It was possible to show that the statements made at the group judgments converged after a few passes, the reported movement lengths so adjusted itself. This conformity in judgments was also obtained when the group members should judge individually again.