On Tactual Perception of Physiognomic Properties

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Abstract
The present study was designed to ascertain whether physiognomic properties, the expressive qualities of percepts, are perceived in the tactual modality even in the absence of visual experience. Flat and solid figures expressing, respectively, Pride, Fear, Sadness, Anger, Peace, Hope, and Forever, as well as flat adaptations of Köhler's Maluma and Takete nonsense figures, were presented for tactual perception, using a matching technique, to 3 groups of children, one of totally and congenitally blind Ss, and two of sighted. The sighted Ss were also tested visually. Positive results were obtained for 4 of the flat ( Pride, Sadness, Anger and Maluma) figures and 3 of the solid ( Pride, Sadness, Anger), supporting the two hypotheses, i.e., (a) that tactual perception of physiognomic properties takes place and (b) that totally and congenitally blind Ss are able to perceive them despite their lack of visual experience. Further support came from a successful replication of these positive findings with another group of totally and congenitally blind Ss. Other findings were that, though there is no demonstrable superiority of either blind or sighted Ss in tactual perception of physiognomic properties, for the sighted, visual perception of such properties is superior to tactual.

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