The morinaga misalignment effect: Reduction and reversal by modification of figural extremities

Summary

In three experiments straight lines varying in length were added to the physically aligned apexes of asymmetrically arranged angles (Experiment 1) and the ends of similarly arranged parallel lines (Experiments 2 and 3). Compared with the condition without added lines, apparent misalignment of the aligned apexes (Morinaga effect) was markedly reduced by the shorter lines and reversed in direction by the longer ones. Apparent misalignment of the ends of parallels was also reduced but not reversed by collinear and right-angle lines. Reduction was greater with the longer collinear lines and with right-angle lines that crossed the parallels a short distance from their ends. These outcomes are interpreted as implicating processes associated with the extremities of figural elements (apexes, ends, and edges) rather than the configuration formed by the elements.