<p>I previously asked about whether <strong>physics could explain the occurrences of the rogue waves which could psychology explain the eyewitnesses' perceptions of the Loch Ness monster?</strong> (The <a href="https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/90372/is-optical-illusion-responsible-for-loch-ness-monster">Physics.SE question</a> has been put on hold because not all of it is about physics.)</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rL4cC.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></p>
<p>So the question:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>What is the psychological explanation for reports of Loch Ness monster?</strong></li>
<li><strong>Could it be related to the dark, undulating pattern under the crests of the white-caps?</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Edit</strong> You are walking along a country lane, when a sudden motion on the water catches your eye. Followed by the sound of a crashing wave. Within seconds, only ripples remain on the surface. You remember the image as shown above. It could be a white-cap on a wave, but everyone who has been to the beach knows that waves come in one-after-another, and there are no other waves, so it can't be a wave. You notice the darker area under the white-cap and realize the only possible explanation is: you have just seen a large animal dive under the surface. Like a sounding whale. (Or monster?).</p>
<p>Loch Ness is located near a major fault line that has seismic activity. Physicists can explain that a wave created by seismic activity is a rogue wave or tsunami. They can also explain why the wave does not reach shore and, why the area under the white-cap is always darker.</p>
<p>So, could a collaboration between physics and psychology show this illusion is a possible explanation for Nessi?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-18T03:30:57.363Z
@JeromyAnglim, I'm asking why they see a monster instead of a wave. Some of it has to do with folk-lore (preconceptions.) I think that current visitors to Loch Ness will see the monster, snap a picture, and then discover they had only seen a wave. They would dismiss this as their mistake, "I though I saw the monster, but it was only a wave." They would not relate the other sightings to actually be waves.
Fred Daniel Kline
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-18T03:32:25.463Z
Okay. I've edited your question a little to be more self-contained, feel free to further edit if I haven't got the right emphasis.
Jeromy Anglim
<cognitive-psychology><perception>
Psychological explanation for perceptions of the Loch Ness monster
Fred Daniel Kline
# Psychological explanation for perceptions of the Loch Ness monster

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-18)

I previously asked about whether **physics could explain the occurrences of the rogue waves which could psychology explain the eyewitnesses' perceptions of the Loch Ness monster?** (The [Physics.SE question](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/90372/is-optical-illusion-responsible-for-loch-ness-monster) has been put on hold because not all of it is about physics.)

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rL4cC.jpg)

So the question:

* **What is the psychological explanation for reports of Loch Ness monster?**
* **Could it be related to the dark, undulating pattern under the crests of the white-caps?**

**Edit** You are walking along a country lane, when a sudden motion on the water catches your eye. Followed by the sound of a crashing wave. Within seconds, only ripples remain on the surface. You remember the image as shown above. It could be a white-cap on a wave, but everyone who has been to the beach knows that waves come in one-after-another, and there are no other waves, so it can't be a wave. You notice the darker area under the white-cap and realize the only possible explanation is: you have just seen a large animal dive under the surface. Like a sounding whale. (Or monster?).

Loch Ness is located near a major fault line that has seismic activity. Physicists can explain that a wave created by seismic activity is a rogue wave or tsunami. They can also explain why the wave does not reach shore and, why the area under the white-cap is always darker.

So, could a collaboration between physics and psychology show this illusion is a possible explanation for Nessi?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, perception

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @JeromyAnglim, I'm asking why they see a monster instead of a wave. Some of it has to do with folk-lore (preconceptions.) I think that current visitors to Loch Ness will see the monster, snap a picture, and then discover they had only seen a wave. They would dismiss this as their mistake, "I though I saw the monster, but it was only a wave." They would not relate the other sightings to actually be waves.  
> **username_1**: Okay. I've edited your question a little to be more self-contained, feel free to further edit if I haven't got the right emphasis.  

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