Gestalt PsychologyGestalt Psychology

Gestalt_psychologyGestalt_psychology

• Gestalt Gestalt

psychologypsychology or  or gestaltismgestaltism ( (GermanGerman: : GestaltGestalt -  - "essence or shape of an entity's complete form") "essence or shape of an entity's complete form")

OriginOrigin• The investigations developed at the beginning of the The investigations developed at the beginning of the

20th century, based on traditional scientific 20th century, based on traditional scientific methodology, divided the object of study into a set of methodology, divided the object of study into a set of elements that could be analyzed separately with the elements that could be analyzed separately with the objective of reducing the complexity of this object. objective of reducing the complexity of this object.

• Contrary to this methodology, the school of Gestalt Contrary to this methodology, the school of Gestalt practiced a series of theoretical and methodological practiced a series of theoretical and methodological principles that attempted to redefine the approach to principles that attempted to redefine the approach to psychological research.psychological research.

OriginOrigin• The concept of Gestalt was first introduced in The concept of Gestalt was first introduced in

contemporary philosophy and psychology by contemporary philosophy and psychology by Christian von Christian von EhrenfelsEhrenfels (a member of the  (a member of the School of BrentanoSchool of Brentano). ).

• The idea of Gestalt has its roots in theories by The idea of Gestalt has its roots in theories by Johann Wolfgang von GoetheJohann Wolfgang von Goethe, , Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant, , and and Ernst MachErnst Mach. . Max WertheimerMax Wertheimer..

Max Wertheimer Max Wertheimer

Max Wertheimer Max Wertheimer

• In 1910, he went to the University of Frankfurt’s In 1910, he went to the University of Frankfurt’s Psychological Institute.  While on vacation that same Psychological Institute.  While on vacation that same year, he became interested in the perceptions he year, he became interested in the perceptions he experienced on a train.  While stopped at the station, he experienced on a train.  While stopped at the station, he bought a toy stroboscope -- a spinning drum with slots bought a toy stroboscope -- a spinning drum with slots to look through and pictures on the inside, sort of a to look through and pictures on the inside, sort of a primitive movie machine or sophisticated flip book. primitive movie machine or sophisticated flip book.

• At Frankfurt, his former teacher Friedrich Schumann, At Frankfurt, his former teacher Friedrich Schumann, now there as well,  gave him the use of a tachistoscope now there as well,  gave him the use of a tachistoscope to study the effect.  His first subjects were two younger to study the effect.  His first subjects were two younger assistants, Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Koffka.  They assistants, Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Koffka.  They would become his lifelong partners. would become his lifelong partners.

Theoretical principles of Theoretical principles of Gestalt_psychologyGestalt_psychology

The theoretical principles are the following:The theoretical principles are the following:

• Principle of Principle of TotalityTotality

• Principle of Principle of psychophysicalpsychophysical  isomorphismisomorphism  

Theoretical principles of Theoretical principles of Gestalt_psychologyGestalt_psychology

Principle of TotalityPrinciple of Totality - The conscious experience  - The conscious experience must be considered globally (by taking into must be considered globally (by taking into account all the physical and mental aspects of account all the physical and mental aspects of the individual simultaneously) because the the individual simultaneously) because the nature of the mind demands that each nature of the mind demands that each component be considered as part of a component be considered as part of a systemsystem of  of dynamic relationships dynamic relationships

Theoretical principles of Gestalt_psychologyTheoretical principles of Gestalt_psychology

• Principle of Principle of psychophysicalpsychophysical  isomorphismisomorphism - -

A A correlationcorrelation exists between conscious experience  exists between conscious experience and and cerebralcerebral activity. activity.

Key PrinciplesKey Principles

The key principles of Gestalt systems are The key principles of Gestalt systems are • emergence, emergence, • eification,eification,•   multistabilitymultistability and  and • invarianceinvariance

EmergenceEmergence

EmergenceEmergence• Emergence is demonstrated by the perception of the Emergence is demonstrated by the perception of the Dog Dog

PicturePicture, which depicts a , which depicts a DalmatianDalmatian dog sniffing the ground in  dog sniffing the ground in the shade of overhanging trees.the shade of overhanging trees.

• The dog is not recognized by first identifying its parts (feet, The dog is not recognized by first identifying its parts (feet, ears, nose, tail, etc.), and then inferring the dog from those ears, nose, tail, etc.), and then inferring the dog from those component parts. Instead, the dog is perceived as a whole, all at component parts. Instead, the dog is perceived as a whole, all at once. once.

• However, this is a However, this is a description description of what occurs in vision and not an of what occurs in vision and not an explanation. Gestalt theory does not explain how the percept of explanation. Gestalt theory does not explain how the percept of a dog emerges.a dog emerges.

ReificationReification

ReificationReification• Reification is the Reification is the constructiveconstructive or  or generativegenerative aspect of perception,  aspect of perception,

by which the experienced percept contains more explicit by which the experienced percept contains more explicit spatial information than the sensory stimulus on which it is spatial information than the sensory stimulus on which it is based.based.

• For instance, a triangle will be perceived in picture A, although For instance, a triangle will be perceived in picture A, although no triangle has actually been drawn. In pictures B and D the no triangle has actually been drawn. In pictures B and D the eye will recognize disparate shapes as "belonging" to a single eye will recognize disparate shapes as "belonging" to a single shape, in C a complete three-dimensional shape is seen, where shape, in C a complete three-dimensional shape is seen, where in actuality no such thing is drawn.in actuality no such thing is drawn.

• Reification can be explained by progress in the study of Reification can be explained by progress in the study of illusory contoursillusory contours, which are treated by the visual system as , which are treated by the visual system as "real" contours."real" contours.

MultistabilityMultistability

The The NeckerNecker Cube Cube and  and the the Rubin vaseRubin vase

MultistabilityMultistability• MultistabilityMultistability (or  (or multistablemultistable perception perception) is the tendency ) is the tendency

of ambiguous perceptual experiences to pop back and of ambiguous perceptual experiences to pop back and forth unstably between two or more alternative forth unstably between two or more alternative interpretations. Other examples include the 'three-interpretations. Other examples include the 'three-pronged widget' and artist pronged widget' and artist M. C. EscherM. C. Escher's artwork and 's artwork and the appearance of flashing marquee lights moving first the appearance of flashing marquee lights moving first one direction and then suddenly the other. one direction and then suddenly the other.

• Again, Gestalt does not explain Again, Gestalt does not explain howhow images appear  images appear multistable, only that they multistable, only that they dodo..

BlivetBlivet

• Blivet: Blivet: This blivet portrays two irreconcilable This blivet portrays two irreconcilable perspectives at once, creating a "lost" layer perspectives at once, creating a "lost" layer between the top two rods, and an impossible between the top two rods, and an impossible extra, vanishing rod in between the bottom two.extra, vanishing rod in between the bottom two.

Blivet or devil’s fork”Blivet or devil’s fork”

InvarianceInvariance

• Invariance is the property of perception whereby Invariance is the property of perception whereby simple geometrical objects are recognized simple geometrical objects are recognized independent of rotation, translation, and scale; independent of rotation, translation, and scale; as well as several other variations such as elastic as well as several other variations such as elastic deformations, different lighting, and different deformations, different lighting, and different component features.component features.

Invariance Invariance

InvarianceInvariance

For example, the objects in For example, the objects in AA in the figure are all  in the figure are all immediately recognized as the same basic shape, immediately recognized as the same basic shape, which are immediately distinguishable from the which are immediately distinguishable from the forms in forms in BB. They are even recognized despite . They are even recognized despite perspective and elastic deformations as in perspective and elastic deformations as in CC, and , and when depicted using different graphic elements when depicted using different graphic elements as in as in DD. .

law of law of prägnanzprägnanz  (German for (German for pithiness i.e. shortnesspithiness i.e. shortness))

law of law of prägnanzprägnanz  (German for (German for pithiness i.e. shortnesspithiness i.e. shortness))

The fundamental principle of gestalt perception is the The fundamental principle of gestalt perception is the law of law of prägnanzprägnanz (German for  (German for pithinesspithiness) which says that ) which says that we tend to order our experience in a manner that is we tend to order our experience in a manner that is regular, orderly, symmetric, and simple. Gestalt regular, orderly, symmetric, and simple. Gestalt psychologists attempt to discover refinements of the psychologists attempt to discover refinements of the law of law of prägnanzprägnanz, and this involves writing down laws , and this involves writing down laws which hypothetically allow us to predict the which hypothetically allow us to predict the interpretation of sensation, what are often called interpretation of sensation, what are often called "gestalt laws" "gestalt laws"

law of law of prägnanzprägnanz  (German for (German for pithinesspithiness))

These include:These include:

• Law of ClosureLaw of Closure

• Law of SimilarityLaw of Similarity

• Law of ProximityLaw of Proximity

Law of ClosureLaw of Closure

Law of ClosureLaw of Closure

Law of ClosureLaw of Closure — — The mind may experience elements it does The mind may experience elements it does

not perceive through sensation, in order not perceive through sensation, in order to complete a regular figure (that is, to to complete a regular figure (that is, to increase regularity).increase regularity).

Law of ClosureLaw of Closure

• The figure The figure above is the above is the typical typical textbook textbook example of example of the law of the law of closure; we closure; we perceive a perceive a circle and not circle and not 8 individual 8 individual circlescircles. .

Law of SimilarityLaw of Similarity

Law of SimilarityLaw of Similarity

Law of SimilarityLaw of Similarity

Law of SimilarityLaw of Similarity — —

The mind groups similar elements into The mind groups similar elements into collective entities or totalities. This collective entities or totalities. This similarity might depend on relationships similarity might depend on relationships of form, color, size, or brightnessof form, color, size, or brightness..

Law of ProximityLaw of Proximity

Law of Proximity —Law of Proximity —

Spatial or temporal proximity of elements may Spatial or temporal proximity of elements may induce the mind to perceive a collective or induce the mind to perceive a collective or

totality.totality.

Law of ProximityLaw of Proximity

Law of SymmetryLaw of Symmetry

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Law of SymmetryLaw of Symmetry

Law of Symmetry Law of Symmetry (Figure ground relationships)— (Figure ground relationships)— Symmetrical images are perceived Symmetrical images are perceived

collectively, even in spite of distancecollectively, even in spite of distance..

Law of ContinuityLaw of Continuity

Law of ContinuityLaw of Continuity

Law of Continuity —Law of Continuity —

The mind continues visual, auditory, and The mind continues visual, auditory, and kinetic patterns.kinetic patterns.

Law of ContinuityLaw of Continuity

Law of Common FateLaw of Common Fate

Law of Common Fate —Law of Common Fate —

Elements with the same moving direction Elements with the same moving direction are perceived as a collective or unitare perceived as a collective or unit..