Developmental Influences in Pictorial Depth Perception among Hong Kong Chinese Children

Abstract

A developmental model is presented relating to the expected age trends in the acquisition of Three-Dimensional Pictorial Perception (3DPPI as well as related sex differences. The Hong Kong Chinese data support the expected increase in 3DPP with ages from three to seventeen and the expected male 3DPP superiority after age eight, thought to stem from increased testosterone output from that age, stimulating the development of the cholinergic inhibitory perceptual processes, and interacting with appropriate cultural/educational stimuli to result in higher 30PP in male Ss. Lower socioeconomic level, field-dependence, harsher socialization, and more traditional attitudes were as expected associated with lower 3DPP scores, while the more permissive Eskimo had as predicted higher 3DPP than the Hong Kong Chinese sample.