Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

The Power of Our Mind Using Imagination

Adrian Angelico E. Guleng

University of Rizal System
Taytay Campus

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Abstract

Presented video clip to the participant. The subject were requested to interpret the moving
picture film of about 1 minute and 12 seconds duration in which three geometrical figures (a
large triangle, a small triangle and a disc also called a circle.) were shown moving In various
direction and at various speed. The only other figure in the field was a rectangle, a section of
which could be opened and closed as a door is. A characteristics feature of this experiment in
terms of action is the attribution of the origin of movements to figural units and to motives. It has
been shown that this attribution of the origin influences the interpretation of the movement, and
that it depends in some cases on the characteristics of the movement themselves, in others in on
surrounding objects. The way in which the actors are judged is closely connected with this
attribution of origin. It is held that this experiment is useful in investigating the way the behavior
of other persons is perceived.

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Introduction
This research paper concerns the perception of intentional action. In a classic study,
Heider and Simmel (1944) showed subjects a film in which simple geometric figures (a large
triangle, a small triangle, and a circle) moved relative to a stationary three sided figure in a
manner consistent with acting out a story. When told write down what happened in the picture,
almost all the subjects interpreted the movement of the figures as the purposeful actions of
animate beings
Heider and Simmel ,Heider, F., Simmel, M., 1944. An experimental study of apparent
behavior. American Journal of Psychology 57, 243259] found that people spontaneously
describe depictions of simple moving objects in terms of purposeful and intentional action. Not
all intentional beings are objects, however, and people often attribute purposeful activity to nonobject individuals such as countries, basketball teams, and families. This raises the question of
whether the same effect found by Heider and Simmel would hold for non-object individuals such
as groups.

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Methodology

Subject:
Sarah

JR

Jellyn

Reymar

Catherine

Carl

Participant:
The participant for this research were 6 college students from University of Rizal System
Taytay Campus all of the participant are taking up a Bachelor of Science In psychology. 5 of the
participant were third year student and 1 of the participant are second Year College a total of 6
sample the participant ages are ranges from 18 to 24 years old.
Materials
I present a video clip to the participant that shows a three geometrical figures (a large
triangle, a small triangle and a disc also called a circle) where shown moving in various
directions and at a various speeds. The only other figure in the field was a rectangle, a section of
which could be opened and closed as a door is the film, one frame of which is shown in fig. 1.

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Fig. 1 Large triangle, small triangle, disc and house.

Procedure
The participant watched a video clip the participant were instructed to answer these
following question: 1. what kind of question is the big triangle? 2. What kind of person is the
little triangle?
3. What kind of person is the circle? 4. Why did the two triangles fight? 5. Why did the circle go
into the house? 6. In one part of the movie the big triangle and the circle were in the
house together. What did the big triangle do then? Why? 7. What did the circle do when it was in
the house with the big triangle? Why? 8. In one part of the movie the big triangle was shut up in

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

the house and tried to get out. What did the small triangle and circle do then? 9. Why did the
big triangle break the house?. The subject will answered on the given data sheet.

Result and Discussion

In item number 1 the questioned is what kind of person is the big triangle? They
answered aggressive, bully, bossy, arrogant, dominant, and, rugged. 2) What kind of a person is
the small triangle? Brave and fighter, 3) what kind of person is the circle? Shy, coward and
afraid, 4) why did the two triangles fight? Because big triangle doesnt want to be separated from
his only daughter; because the small triangle and circle are noisy; they got home late in the
evening; they fight because of the circle; because big triangle are bully; One of the participant
answered I dont know5) why did circle go into the house? Because big triangle instruct the
circle to go inside; Come inside to hide; the circle is afraid from the big circle; 6) in one part of
the movie the big triangle and the circle were in the house together. What did the big triangle do
then? Why? Big triangle trying to convince the circle not to go with small triangle; He scolded
the circle for leaving without his permission; They wanted to trap the circle; tried to make peace;
he just wanted to stay in the house;7) What did the circle do when it was in the house with the
big triangle? Why? Circle choose to go out to follow his lover small triangle ; Crying in fear;
tried to escape; she walk away because she feel nervous; she from the big triangle.8) in one part

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

of the movie the big triangle was shut up in the house and tried to get out. What did the small
triangle and circle do then? They escaped; they locked up the door; they celebrate after they did
not by the big triangle.9) Why did the big triangle break the house? Out of control, frustrations;
anger and disappointment.

Related Studies

Balance Theory
To show how people develop their relationships with other people and with things in
their environment.
Balance Theory says that if people see a set of cognitive elements as being a system,
then they will have a preference to maintain a balanced state among these elements.
In other words, if we feel we are 'out of balance', then we are motivated to restore a position of
balance. The felt discomfort at imbalance will increase with the strength of the attitude and the
overall interest in the matter.

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Attribution
Is the process of inferring the causes of events or behaviours. In real life, attribution is
something we all do every day, usually without any awareness of the underlying processes and
biases that lead to our inferences.

Causal Reasoning
Is the ability to identify causality: the relationship between a cause and its effect. The
participant interpret the story of three geometrical shapes and they construct a relationship from
the three geometrical shapes to make a story.

Conclusion

This experiment shows the video that does not have any story and relation in real life but
our mind perceive and construct story that doesnt exist, I conclude that human mind are
extremely good in constructing and relating a things that doesnt exist with using our
imagination.

Large triangle, Small Triangle and a Disc

Reference

Journal Article
Heider, F, & Simmel, M. (1944). An experimental study of apparent behavior. American
Journal of Psychology

Website
http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/courses/agentinteraction/contents/papers/Heider44.pdf
http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1945-01435-001
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=apparent+behavior&biw=1024&bih=667&source=lnms&t
bm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIoMCVkrGrxwIVx0uOCh251AQ_#im
grc=
http://www.psychologyconcepts.com/heider-and-simmel-study-of-apparent-behavior/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Heider