What theory applied to the Muller-Lyer illusion suggests our knowledge of right angles influences our interpretation of linear perspective?

The Carpentered world hypothesis effectively explains the phenomenon observed in the Müller-Lyer illusion by highlighting how our experiences and cultural upbringing shape our perception of visual stimuli. This theory posits that individuals raised in environments characterized by right angles and straight lines—such as urban settings—develop a cognitive bias toward interpreting lines in a particular way. Thus, when faced with the Müller-Lyer illusion, our familiarity with angles influences how we perceive the lines, leading us to interpret the outward and inward fins of the arrows as indicative of depth or distance. This results in the misperception that the lengths of the lines are different, even when they are the same.

In contrast, perceptual set theory focuses on how expectations and previous experiences can influence perception but does not specifically address the role of environmental factors like the Carpentered world hypothesis. The Gestalt principles emphasize the holistic processing of visual elements rather than the contextual influences on perspective. Ecological theory is concerned with the relationship between perception and the environment without the specific implications of cultural conditioning that the Carpentered world hypothesis offers.