Stuart Appelle
Encyclopedia
Dr. Stuart Appelle was a professor and writer, with an interest in topics dealing with anomalous perception, including hypnotic experience, and reports of unidentified flying objects and alien abduction.
at the Pennsylvania State University
. He received his Ph.D.
from George Washington University
in 1972. In addition to teaching at SUNY
Brockport, he has held teaching or research positions at George Washington University
, Mount Vernon College, and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Department of Pediatrics).
Appelle had worked as Dean of the School of Letters and Sciences at SUNY Brockport. at SUNY Brockport. A former chairman of the Department of Psychology, he had also served as interim Dean
of the School of Letters and Sciences, Associate Dean of the School of Letters and Sciences, and as the director of Brockport's graduate program in Liberal Studies. He used to be a professor of psychology
at Brockport.
Professor Appelle's research focused on visual and tactual perception
, and in particular on object orientation. He introduced the concept of the oblique effect
, a construct that is routinely presented in perception textbooks, and broadly cited in the research literature . He is author of more than 40 articles and book chapters, more than 80 entries in the reference text Engineering Data Compendium: Human Perception and Performance, and has presented papers at more than 20 professional meetings.
In addition to these administrative activities, Appelle was an active scholar whose research focuses on perception, and the nature of conscious experience. His work in these areas has been widely published, spanning theoretical problems in the senses, applied work related to blind and developmentally delayed populations, and topics of popular interest such as hypnosis and anomalous experience (e.g. accounts of unidentified flying objects and alien abductions). Dean Appelle was a member of nine professional organizations including the American Psychological Association
, the American Psychological Society, Psychonomic Society
, and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
On June 27, 2011, Appelle passed away at the age of 65
Biography
Born in 1946, Stuart Appelle began his graduate work in experimental psychologyExperimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
at the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1972. In addition to teaching at SUNY
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
Brockport, he has held teaching or research positions at George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, Mount Vernon College, and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Department of Pediatrics).
Appelle had worked as Dean of the School of Letters and Sciences at SUNY Brockport. at SUNY Brockport. A former chairman of the Department of Psychology, he had also served as interim Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the School of Letters and Sciences, Associate Dean of the School of Letters and Sciences, and as the director of Brockport's graduate program in Liberal Studies. He used to be a professor of psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at Brockport.
Professor Appelle's research focused on visual and tactual perception
Perception
Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
, and in particular on object orientation. He introduced the concept of the oblique effect
Oblique effect
Oblique effect is the name given to the relative deficiency in perceptual performance for oblique contours as compared to the performance for horizontal or vertical contours.-Background:...
, a construct that is routinely presented in perception textbooks, and broadly cited in the research literature . He is author of more than 40 articles and book chapters, more than 80 entries in the reference text Engineering Data Compendium: Human Perception and Performance, and has presented papers at more than 20 professional meetings.
In addition to these administrative activities, Appelle was an active scholar whose research focuses on perception, and the nature of conscious experience. His work in these areas has been widely published, spanning theoretical problems in the senses, applied work related to blind and developmentally delayed populations, and topics of popular interest such as hypnosis and anomalous experience (e.g. accounts of unidentified flying objects and alien abductions). Dean Appelle was a member of nine professional organizations including the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, the American Psychological Society, Psychonomic Society
Psychonomic Society
The Psychonomic Society is one of the primary societies for general scientific experimental psychology in the United States. Although open to all areas of experimental psychology, its members typically study areas related to cognitive psychology, such as learning, memory, attention, motivation,...
, and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
On June 27, 2011, Appelle passed away at the age of 65