word for the natural human instinct to see faces in random patterns??

[joko]

as above really

thanks

[dundurn]

Not sure there is one word, unfortunately. I usually use gestalt when talking about this, which I do from time to time, strangely enough!

Gestalt Theory was 'invented' in Germany in the 20s. Other psychologists who developed their theories on the basis of the earlier German work were RL Gregory and JJ Gibson. I'm more familiar with Gibson's work which he called Ecological Optics.

[heathfield]

Well there's always pareidolia, though it seems that's more to do with things like clouds, tree bark, etc resembling faces. An alternative is patternicity

I like the Bonzo Dog story of 'Rawlinson End', where the bedroom walls were covered in a pattern of human faces which, if looked at in a certain way, took on the appearance of...roses!