Gestalt psychology
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| - | '''Gestalt psychology''' (also '''Gestalt ''' of the [[Berlin School]]) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is [[holism|holistic]], parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies; or, that the whole is different than the sum of its parts. The classic Gestalt example is a [[soap bubble]], whose spherical shape is not defined by a rigid template, or a mathematical formula, but rather it emerges spontaneously by the parallel action of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. This is in contrast to the "atomistic" principle of operation of the digital computer, where every computation is broken down into a sequence of simple steps, each of which is computed independently of the problem as a whole. The '''Gestalt effect''' refers to the form-forming capability of our senses, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of just a collection of simple lines and curves. | + | |
| + | '''Gestalt psychology''' is a philosophy of mind of the [[Berlin School of experimental psychology]]. Gestalt psychology is an attempt to understand the laws behind the ability to acquire and maintain meaningful perceptions in an apparently chaotic world. | ||
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| + | The central principle of gestalt psychology is that the mind forms a [[holism|global whole]] with self-organizing tendencies. | ||
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| + | The original famous phrase of Gestalt psychologist [[Kurt Koffka]], "The whole is ''other'' than the sum of the parts" is often incorrectly translated as "The whole is ''greater'' than the sum of its parts", and thus used when explaining gestalt theory, and further incorrectly applied to [[systems theory]]. The whole has an independent existence. | ||
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| + | In the study of [[perception]], Gestalt psychologists stipulate that perceptions are the products of complex interactions among various stimuli. Contrary to the [[behaviorist]] approach to focusing on stimulus and response, gestalt psychologists sought to understand the ''organization'' of cognitive processes (Carlson and Heth, 2010). The '''gestalt effect''' is the capability of our brain to generate whole forms, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of global figures instead of just collections of simpler and unrelated elements (points, lines, curves, etc.). | ||
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| + | In psychology, gestaltism is often opposed to [[structuralism (psychology)|structuralism]]. Gestalt theory, it is proposed, allows for the deconstruction of the whole situation into its elements. | ||
| + | ==Origins== | ||
| + | The concept of gestalt was first introduced in philosophy and psychology in 1890 by [[Christian von Ehrenfels]] (a member of the [[School of Brentano]]). The idea of gestalt has its roots in theories by [[David Hume]], [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]], [[Immanuel Kant]], [[David Hartley (philosopher)|David Hartley]], and [[Ernst Mach]]. [[Max Wertheimer]]'s unique contribution was to insist that the "gestalt" is perceptually primary, defining the parts it was composed from, rather than being a secondary quality that emerges from those parts, as von Ehrenfels's earlier ''Gestalt-Qualität'' had been.{{cn|date=November 2016}} | ||
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| + | Both von Ehrenfels and [[Edmund Husserl]] seem to have been inspired by Mach's work ''Beiträge zur Analyse der Empfindungen'' (Contributions to the Analysis of Sensations, 1886), in formulating their very similar concepts of ''gestalt'' and ''figural moment'', respectively. On the philosophical foundations of these ideas see Foundations of Gestalt Theory (Smith, ed., 1988). | ||
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| + | Early 20th century theorists, such as [[Kurt Koffka]], [[Max Wertheimer]], and [[Wolfgang Köhler]] (students of [[Carl Stumpf]]) saw objects as perceived within an environment according to all of their elements taken together as a global construct. This 'gestalt' or 'whole form' approach sought to define principles of [[perception]]—seemingly innate mental laws that determined the way objects were perceived. It is based on the here and now, and in the way things are seen. Images can be divided into [[Figure–ground (perception)|figure or ground]]. The question is what is perceived at first glance: the figure in front, or the background. | ||
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| + | These laws took several forms, such as the grouping of similar, or proximate, objects together, within this global process. Although gestalt has been criticized for being merely descriptive, it has formed the basis of much further research into the perception of patterns and objects (Carlson et al. 2000), and of research into behavior, thinking, problem solving and psychopathology. | ||
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| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Max Wertheimer]] | + | * [[Amodal perception]] |
| - | * [[Kurt Koffka]] | + | |
| - | * [[Wolfgang Köhler]] | + | |
| - | * [[Gestalt therapy]]—often mistaken for gestalt psychology | + | |
| - | * [[Structural information theory]] | + | |
| * [[Rudolf Arnheim]] | * [[Rudolf Arnheim]] | ||
| - | * [[Wolfgang Metzger]] | ||
| - | * [[Kurt Goldstein]] | ||
| - | * [[Pál Schiller Harkai]] | ||
| * [[Solomon Asch]] | * [[Solomon Asch]] | ||
| + | * [[cognitive grammar]] | ||
| + | * [[fuzzy-trace theory]] | ||
| * [[Hermann Friedmann]] | * [[Hermann Friedmann]] | ||
| + | * [[Gestaltzerfall]] | ||
| * [[James J. Gibson]] | * [[James J. Gibson]] | ||
| - | * [[James Tenney]] | ||
| * [[Graz School]] | * [[Graz School]] | ||
| - | * [[List of publications in psychology#Gestalt psychology|Important publications in gestalt psychology]] | + | * [[Kurt Goldstein]] |
| - | * [[Mereology]] | + | * [[Laws of association]] |
| + | * [[list of publications in psychology#Gestalt psychology|important publications in gestalt psychology]] | ||
| + | * [[mereology]] | ||
| + | * [[Wolfgang Metzger]] | ||
| * [[Optical illusion]] | * [[Optical illusion]] | ||
| * [[Pattern recognition (psychology)]] | * [[Pattern recognition (psychology)]] | ||
| - | * [[Pattern recognition|Pattern recognition (machine learning)]] | + | * [[Pattern recognition|pattern recognition (machine learning)]] |
| - | * [[Amodal perception]] | + | * [[phenomenology (psychology)|phenomenology]] |
| - | * [[Phenomenology (psychology)|Phenomenology]] | + | * [[principles of grouping]] |
| - | * [[Topological data analysis]] | + | * [[Pál Schiller Harkai]] |
| - | * [[Fuzzy-trace theory]] | + | * [[Structural information theory]] |
| - | * [[Laws of Association]] | + | * [[topological data analysis]] |
| + | * [[James Tenney]] | ||
| + | * [[Hans Wallach]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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Gestalt psychology is a philosophy of mind of the Berlin School of experimental psychology. Gestalt psychology is an attempt to understand the laws behind the ability to acquire and maintain meaningful perceptions in an apparently chaotic world.
The central principle of gestalt psychology is that the mind forms a global whole with self-organizing tendencies.
The original famous phrase of Gestalt psychologist Kurt Koffka, "The whole is other than the sum of the parts" is often incorrectly translated as "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts", and thus used when explaining gestalt theory, and further incorrectly applied to systems theory. The whole has an independent existence.
In the study of perception, Gestalt psychologists stipulate that perceptions are the products of complex interactions among various stimuli. Contrary to the behaviorist approach to focusing on stimulus and response, gestalt psychologists sought to understand the organization of cognitive processes (Carlson and Heth, 2010). The gestalt effect is the capability of our brain to generate whole forms, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of global figures instead of just collections of simpler and unrelated elements (points, lines, curves, etc.).
In psychology, gestaltism is often opposed to structuralism. Gestalt theory, it is proposed, allows for the deconstruction of the whole situation into its elements.
Origins
The concept of gestalt was first introduced in philosophy and psychology in 1890 by Christian von Ehrenfels (a member of the School of Brentano). The idea of gestalt has its roots in theories by David Hume, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Immanuel Kant, David Hartley, and Ernst Mach. Max Wertheimer's unique contribution was to insist that the "gestalt" is perceptually primary, defining the parts it was composed from, rather than being a secondary quality that emerges from those parts, as von Ehrenfels's earlier Gestalt-Qualität had been.Template:Cn
Both von Ehrenfels and Edmund Husserl seem to have been inspired by Mach's work Beiträge zur Analyse der Empfindungen (Contributions to the Analysis of Sensations, 1886), in formulating their very similar concepts of gestalt and figural moment, respectively. On the philosophical foundations of these ideas see Foundations of Gestalt Theory (Smith, ed., 1988).
Early 20th century theorists, such as Kurt Koffka, Max Wertheimer, and Wolfgang Köhler (students of Carl Stumpf) saw objects as perceived within an environment according to all of their elements taken together as a global construct. This 'gestalt' or 'whole form' approach sought to define principles of perception—seemingly innate mental laws that determined the way objects were perceived. It is based on the here and now, and in the way things are seen. Images can be divided into figure or ground. The question is what is perceived at first glance: the figure in front, or the background.
These laws took several forms, such as the grouping of similar, or proximate, objects together, within this global process. Although gestalt has been criticized for being merely descriptive, it has formed the basis of much further research into the perception of patterns and objects (Carlson et al. 2000), and of research into behavior, thinking, problem solving and psychopathology.
See also
- Amodal perception
- Rudolf Arnheim
- Solomon Asch
- cognitive grammar
- fuzzy-trace theory
- Hermann Friedmann
- Gestaltzerfall
- James J. Gibson
- Graz School
- Kurt Goldstein
- Laws of association
- important publications in gestalt psychology
- mereology
- Wolfgang Metzger
- Optical illusion
- Pattern recognition (psychology)
- pattern recognition (machine learning)
- phenomenology
- principles of grouping
- Pál Schiller Harkai
- Structural information theory
- topological data analysis
- James Tenney
- Hans Wallach
