What psychological concept involves maintaining a stable perception of a stimulus despite changes in the retinal image?

The concept of perceptual constancies refers to the tendency of individuals to perceive objects as stable and unchanging despite fluctuations in sensory input. For instance, when viewing an object from different angles or distances, the image on the retina may vary significantly, but our perception remains constant—recognizing the object as the same size, shape, color, and brightness. This ability to maintain a coherent perception is crucial for navigating our environment effectively and is a fundamental aspect of human perception.

Other concepts listed, such as perceptual set, relate to expectations influencing perception, while visual acuity pertains to the clarity or sharpness of vision. Depth perception involves the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distances, which is important for spatial awareness but does not directly address the stability of perception against changing retinal images. Perceptual constancies, therefore, specifically address the stabilization of perception regarding stimuli, making it the correct choice.