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Proximity

Definition

In psychology, proximity refers to the principle that we group nearby figures together. It's part of Gestalt psychology about how we perceive stimuli in our environment.

Analogy

Think about when you see birds flying in the sky. If they are close together, you automatically group them as one flock instead of individual birds. That's proximity at work!

Related terms

Similarity: In psychology, this refers to how we tend to group similar-looking items together in our perceptions.

Grouping: The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups.

Law of Common Fate: A principle in visual perception where elements moving in the same direction are perceived as a unit or group.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.