The Müller-Lyer Illusion among Navajos

Abstract

Summary The hypothesis was tested that people within the same culture who live in a noncarpentered environment would be less susceptible to the Müller-Lyer illusion than those in a carpentered environment. Ten Navajo Ss who had lived at least the first six years of their lives in a Hogan—the traditional Navajo round house—and 10 Ss who had lived all of their lives in a rectangular house were tested on a Müller-Lyer apparatus. A significant difference between means was found: those in the curvilinear group were less susceptible to the Müller-Lyer illusion.