ABSTRACT

Images of moving objects presented on computer screens may be perceived as animate or inanimate. A simple hypothesis, consistent with much research evidence, is that objects are perceived as inanimate if there is a visible external contact from another object immediately prior to the onset of motion, and as animate if that is not the case. Evidence is reported that is not consistent with that hypothesis. Objects (targets) moving on contact from another object (launcher) were perceived as actively resisting the impact of the launcher on them if the targets slowed rapidly. Rapid slowing is consistent with the laws of mechanics for objects moving in an environment that offers friction and air resistance. Despite that, ratings of inanimate motion were lower than ratings of active resistance for objects that slowed rapidly. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that there is a perceptual impression of active (animate) resistance that is evoked by the kinematic pattern of rapid slowing from an initial speed after contact from another object.

摘要

呈现在计算机屏幕上的移动物体的图像可能被认为是有生命的或无生命的。一个与许多研究证据一致的简单假设是，如果在运动开始之前紧接另一个物体有可见的外部接触，则物体被视为无生命；如果不是，则被视为具有生命。据报道与该假设不一致的证据。如果目标（目标）迅速减速，则它们会与另一个目标（发射器）保持接触，从而主动抵抗发射器对其的撞击。对于在具有摩擦力和空气阻力的环境中移动的物体，快速减速符合力学定律。尽管如此，对于迅速减速的物体，无生命运动的额定值低于主动阻力的额定值。