本研究は,相貌的知覚の観点から,図形のもつ意味的性質と図形の提示される方向とを変量として見えの速さを発達的に検討したものである。実験I Fig.1に示す3つの図形((1)三角形,(2)手,(3)月ロケット)をそれぞれ,その指向する運動方向(下から上へ)に一致する方向(順方向)と一致しない方向(逆方向)の2様に運動するようにする。これら計6個の図形の見えの速さを小学校1年生と大学生の2群について比較した。その結果,次の事実が明らかになった。小1年生では(1)順方向の図形についてみると,見えの速さは月ロケット・手・三角形の順序に速い。(2)逆方向の図形についても同様に,見えの速さは月ロケット・手・三角形の順序に速い。(3)いずれの図形も,順方向の方が逆方向よりも速く動いていると知覚される。しかし,大学生の場合には,(4)図形間に明確な見えの速さの差がほとんど見出されない。実験II・面積と輪廓はまったく等しいが,輪廓内部の図柄が異なるようなFig. 3に示す3つの図形(イ)順鳥・(ロ)逆鳥・(ハ)花)を作った。このようにして図柄の要因を比較的統制したうえで,図形の意味的性質とその提示方向による見えの速さのちがいを再検討した。その結果,次の事実が明らかにされた。(1)小1年生では,見えの速さは順鳥・逆鳥・花の順序に速い。(2)大学生では,3つの図形の見えの速さはまったく等しい。

The present study is a developmental one which was carried out to investigate the effect of both meaning and direction of figures on their apparent speed, from the standpoint of physiognomic perception. Exp. 1. The purpose of the present experiment is to study the apparent speed of three figures of 'triangle', 'hand' and 'moon-rocket'. The 'triangle' is merely a simple geometrical figure. The 'hand' has a static meaning but points to a particular direction. The 'moon-rocket' has a dynamic meaning and also points to a particular direction. Each of them was presented in both direction of upward and downward. Upward direction coincides with the direction of movement, but downward direction does not. 'Each of figures is compared with the standard figure which is white circle of 3cm in diameter moving upward at a constant of 15cm/sec. The subjects consist of two groups, the first grade children of primary school as a younger group and the university students as an older one. The major findings are as follows : In the case of younger group, distinct differences which are significant statistically were obtained among figures. 1. As to the upward direction, the apparent speed is faster in the order of 'moon-rocket', 'hand' and 'triangle'. 2. As to the downward direction, the order of apparent speed is the same as that found in upward direction 3. The apparent speed of the upward direction is more speedy than that of the downward direction. But, in the case of older group, distinct differences couldn't be found among figures. Exp. 2. The purpose of the present experiment is a comparison of apparent speed of three figures of 'upward bird', 'downward bird' and 'flower' with each other. In this experiment. it was possible to observe the effect of meaning and direction of figure on its apparent speed independently. Each of figures has an equal area and the same outline, but their meaning and direction is made different from each other by changing the complexity of design within. The major findings are as follows : In the case of younger group, the apparent speed is faster in the order of 'upward bird', 'downward bird' and 'flower'. But, in the case of older group, the apparent speed in each of the three figures is equal to each other.