Perceived Causality Occurs with Stroboscopic Movement of One or Both Stimulus Elements

Abstract

It was shown by magnitude estimation that the perception of causality first described by Michotte (1946/1963) also occurs consistently and strongly with stroboscopic, ie apparent or phi, movement. This is so when the ‘causal’ movement is stroboscopic and the ‘caused’ movement real, when these movements are reversed, and when both movements are stroboscopic. The effect is not due to prior experience with Michotte-type displays.