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What is Gestalt Psychology? Theory, Principles, & Examples

Nathalia Bustamante

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Nathalia Bustamante is a Brazilian journalist at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

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Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

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BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

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Key Takeaways

• Gestalt psychology is a school of thought that seeks to understand how the human brain perceives experiences. It suggests that structures, perceived as a whole, have specific properties that are different from the sum of their individual parts.
• For instance, when reading a text, a person perceives each word and sentence as a whole with meaning, rather than seeing individual letters; and while each letterform is an independent individual unit, the greater meaning of the text depends on the arrangement of the letters into a specific configuration.
• Gestalt grew from the field of psychology in the beginning of the 19th Century. Austrian and German psychologists started researching the human mind’s tendency to try to make sense of the world around us through automatic grouping and association.
• The Gestalt Principles, or Laws of Perception, explain how this behavior of “pattern seeking” operates. They offer a powerful framework to understand human perception, and yet are simple to assimilate and implement.
• For that reason, the Gestalt Laws are appealing not only to psychologists but also to visual artists, educators and communicators.

What Does Gestalt Mean?

In a loose translation, the German word ‘Gestalt’ (pronounced “ge-shtalt”) means ‘configuration’, or ‘structure’. It makes a reference to the way individual components are structured by our perception as a psychical whole (Wulf, 1996). That structure provides a scientific explanation for why changes in spacing, organization and timing can radically transform how information is received and assimilated.

How the Gestalt Approach Formed?

Two of the main philosophical influences of Gestalt are Kantian epistemology and Husserl’s phenomenological method.

Both Kant and Husserls sought to understand human consciousness and perceptions of the world, arguing that those mental processes are not entirely mediated by rational thought (Jorge, 2010).

Similarly, the Gestalt researchers Wertheimer, Koffka and Kohler observed that the human brain tends to automatically organize and interpret visual data through grouping.

They theorized that, because of those “mental shortcuts”, the perception of the whole is different from the sum of individual elements.

This idea that the whole is different from the sum of its parts – the central tenet of Gestalt psychology – challenged the then-prevailing theory of Structuralism .

This school of thought defended that mental processes should be broken down into their basic components, to focus on them individually.

Structuralists believed that complex perceptions could be understood by identifying the primitive sensations it caused – such as the points that make a square or particular pitches in a melody.

Gestalt, on the other hand, suggests the opposite path. It argues that the whole is grasped even before the brain perceives the individual parts – like when, looking at a photograph, we see the image of a face rather than a nose, two eyes, and the shape of a chin.

Therefore, to understand the subjective nature of human perception, we should transcend the specific parts to focus on the whole.

Gestalt Psychologists

Max wertheimer.

The inaugural article of Gestalt Psychology was Max Wertheimer’s Experimental Studies of the Perception of Movement , published in 1912.

Wertheimer, then at the Institute of Psychology in Frankfurt am Main, described a visual illusion called apparent motion in this article.

Apparent motion is the perception of movement that results from viewing a rapid sequence of static images, as happens in the movies or in flip books.

Wertheimer realized that the perception of the whole (the group of figures in a sequence) was radically different from the perception of its components (each static image).

Wolfgang Köhler

Wolfgang Köhler was particularly interested in physics and natural sciences. He introduced the concept of psychophysical isomorphism – arguing that how a stimulus is received is influenced by the brain’s general state while perceiving it (Shelvock, 2016).

He believed that organic processes tend to evolve to a state of equilibrium – like soap bubbles, that start in various shapes but always change into perfect spheres because that is their minimum energy state.

In the same way, the human brain would “converge” towards a minimum energy state through a process of simplifying perception – a mechanism that he called Pragnanz (Rock & Palmer, 1990).

Kurt Koffka

Koffka contributed to expanding Gestalt applications beyond visual perception. In his major article, Principles of Gestalt psychology (1935) he detailed the application of the Gestalt Laws to topics such as motor action, learning and memory, personality and society.

He also played a key role in taking the Gestalt Theory to the United States, to where he emigrated after the rise of Nazism in Germany.

Gestalt principles

Gestalt’s principles, or Laws of Perception, were formalized by Wertheimer in a treaty published in 1923, and further elaborated by Köhler, Koffka, and Metzger.

The principles are grounded on the human natural tendency of finding order in disorder – a process that happens in the brain, not in the sensory organs such as the eye. According to Wertheimer, the mind “makes sense” of stimulus captured by the eyes following a predictable set of principles.

The brain applies these principles to enable individuals to perceive uniform forms rather than simply collections of unconnected images.

Although these principles operate in a predictable way, they are actually mental shortcuts to interpreting information. As shortcuts, they sometimes make mistakes – and that is why they can lead to incorrect perceptions.

Prägnanz (law of simplicity)

• The law of Prägnanz is also called “law of simplicity” or “law of good figure”. It states that when faced with a set of ambiguous or complex objects, the human brain seeks to make them as simple as possible.
• The “good figure” is an object or image that can easily be perceived as a whole.
• A good example of this process is our perception of the Olympic logo. We tend to see overlapping circles (the simpler version) rather than a series of curved, connected lines (Dresp-Langley, 2015).
• This law suggests that we tend to group shapes, objects or design elements that share some similarity in terms of color, shape, orientation, texture or size.
• The law of proximity states that shapes, objects or design elements located near each other tend to be perceived as a group.
• Conversely, randomly located items tend to be perceived as isolated.
• This principle can be applied to direct attention to key elements within a design: the closer visual elements are to each other, the more likely they will be perceived as related to each other, and too much negative space between elements serve to isolate them from one another.

Common Region

• This law proposes that elements that are located within the same closed region – such as inside a circle or a shape – tend to be perceived as belonging to the same group.
• Those clearly defined boundaries between the inside and the outside of a shape create a stronger connection between elements, and can even overpower the law of Proximity or of Similarity.
• This law argues that shapes, objects or design elements that are positioned in a way that suggests lines, curves or planes will be perceived as such, and not as individual elements.
• We perceptually group the elements together to form a continuous image.
• This law suggests that the human brain has a natural tendency to visually close gaps in forms, particularly when identifying familiar images.
• When information is missing, our focus goes to what is present and automatically “fills” the missing parts with familiar lines, colors or patterns.
• Once a form has been identified, even if additional gaps are introduced, we still tend to visually complete the form, in order to make them stable.
• IBM’s iconic logo is one example of applied closure – blue horizontal lines are arranged in three stacks that we “close” to form the letterforms (Graham 2008).

The classic gestalt principles have been extended in various directions. The ones above are some of the most commonly cited, but there are others, such as the symmetry principle (symmetrical components will tend to be grouped together) and the common faith principle (elements tend to be perceived as grouped together if they move together).

Applications of Gestalt

Gestalt Psychology and the Laws of Perception influenced research from a multitude of disciplines – including linguistic, design, architecture and visual communication.

Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy was founded by Frederick (Fritz) and Laura Perls in the 1940s. It focuses on the phenomenological method of awareness that distinguishes perceptions, feelings and actions from their interpretations.

It believes that explanations and interpretations are less reliable than the concrete – what is directly perceived and felt. It is a therapy rooted in dialogue, in which patients and therapists discuss differences in perspectives (Yontef, G, 1993).

Design Professor and specialist Gregg Berryman pointed out, in his book Notes on Graphic Design and Visual Communication (1979), that ‘Gestalt perceptual factors build a visual frame of reference which can provide the designer with a reliable psychological basis for the spatial organization of graphic information’.

In essence, Gestalt provided a framework of understanding upon which designers can make decisions.

What made gestalt theory appealing to visual artists and designers is its attempt to explain “pattern seeking” in human behavior.

The Gestalt Laws provided scientific validation of compositional structure, and were used by designers in the mid-twentieth century to explain and improve visual work.

They are particularly useful in the creation of posters, magazines, logos and billboards in a meaningful and organized way. More recently, they have also been applied to the design of websites, user interfaces and digital experiences (Graham 2008).

Product Development

The product’s form and other perceptual attributes such as color and texture are crucial in influencing customer’s buying decisions.

Product development has adopted Gestalt Laws in approaches that consider how the target customer will perceive the final product.

By considering these perceptions, the product developer is better able to understand potential risks, ambiguities and meanings of the product he or she is working on (Cziulik & Santos 2012).

Education and Learning

In Education, Gestalt Theory was applied as a reaction to behaviorism, which reduced experiences to simple stimulus-response reflections.

Gestalt suggested that students should perceive the whole of the learning goal, and then discover the relations between parts and the whole. That meant that teachers should provide the basic framework of the lesson as an organized and meaningful structure, and then go into details.

That would help students to understand the relation between contents and the overall goal of the lesson.

Problem-based learning methodologies also arose based on Gestalt principles.

When students are exposed to the whole of a problem, they can “make sense” of it before engaging in introspective thinking to analyze the connection between elements and craft independent solutions (Çeliköz et al. 2019).

The Gestalt Principles are applied to the design of advertisement, packaging and even physical stores.

Researchers that investigated how consumers form overall impressions of consumption objects found that they usually integrate visual information with their own evaluation of specific features (Zimmer & Golden, 1988).

More recent applications also analyze how consumer perceptions apply to online shopping environments. The fundamental Gestalt Laws are thus applied to site architecture and visual impact (Demangeot, 2010).

Gestalt Legacy

Most psychologists consider that the Gestalt School, as a theoretical field of study, died with its founding fathers in the 1940s. Two main reasons may have contributed to that decline.

The first reason are institutional and personal constraints: after they left Germany, Wetheimer, Koffka and Köhler obtained positions in which they could conduct research, but could not train PhDs.

At the same time, most of the students and researchers that had remained in Germany broadened the scope of their research beyond Gestalt topics.

The second reason for the decline of Gestalt Psychology were empirical findings dismantling Köhler’s electrical field theory that sought to explain the brain’s functioning.

Neuroscience and cognitive science emerged in the 1960s as stronger frameworks for explaining the functioning of the brain.

Still, nearly all psychology students can expect to find at least one chapter dedicated to Gestalt Psychology in their textbooks.

Similarly, fundamental questions about the subjective nature of perception and awareness are still addressed in contemporary scientific research – with the perks of counting on advanced methods that were not available for the Gestaltists in the first half of the XX Century (Wagemans et al, 2012).

Berryman, G. (1979). Notes on Graphic Design and Visual Communication. Los Altos. William Kaufmann. Inc., t979.

Cziulik, C., & dos Santos, F. L. (2011). An approach to define formal requirements into product development according to Gestalt principles. Product: Management and Development, 9(2), 89-100.

Çeliköz, N., Erisen, Y., & Sahin, M. (2019). Cognitive Learning Theories with Emphasis on Latent Learning, Gestalt and Information Processing Theories. Online Submission, 9(3), 18-33.

Demangeot, C., & Broderick, A. J. (2010). Consumer perceptions of online shopping environments: A gestalt approach. Psychology & Marketing, 27(2), 117-140.

Dresp-Langley, B. (2015). Principles of perceptual grouping: Implications for image-guided surgery. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1565.

Graham, L. (2008). Gestalt theory in interactive media design. Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 2(1).

Jorge, MLM. (2010) Implicaciones epistemológicas de la noción de forma en la psicología de la Gestalt. Revista de Historia de la Psicología. vol. 31, núm. 4 (diciembre)

O”Connor, Z. (2015). Colour, contrast and gestalt theories of perception: The impact in contemporary visual communications design. Color Research & Application, 40(1), 85-92.

Rock, I., & Palmer, S. (1990). The legacy of Gestalt psychology . Scientific American, 263(6), 84-91.

Shelvock, M. T. (2016). Gestalt theory and mixing audio. Innovation in Music II, 1-14.

Wagemans, J., Elder, J. H., Kubovy, M., Palmer, S. E., Peterson, M. A., Singh, M., & von der Heydt, R. (2012). A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception : I. Perceptual grouping and figure–ground organization. Psychological bulletin, 138(6), 1172.

Yontef, G., & Simkin, J. (1993). Gestalt therapy: An introduction. Gestalt Journal Press.

Zimmer, M. R., & Golden, L. L. (1988). Impressions of retail stores: A content analysis of consume. Journal of retailing, 64(3), 265.

Further Information

Wagemans, J., Elder, J. H., Kubovy, M., Palmer, S. E., Peterson, M. A., Singh, M., & von der Heydt, R. (2012). A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure–ground organization. Psychological bulletin, 138(6), 1172.

Raffagnino, R. (2019). Gestalt Therapy Effectiveness: A Systematic Review of Empirical Evidence. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7(6), 66-83.

Health, Brain and Neuroscience

Mental, physical health and neuroscience, gestalt theory: what is it, characteristics, its laws and main applications.

What is Gestalt Theory? Discover here one of the most important trends in psychology. We will tell you about their characteristics, main authors, contributions, and applications. Also a bonus on how these contribute in a personal level.

Table of Contents

What is the Gestalt Theory?

Gestalt is a decisive trend in psychology history. It was born in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. It was Christian von Ehrenfels, an Austrian philosopher, who gave this movement its name in The Attributes of Form, his most important work. There is no perfect English translation of the term “gestalt”. But we can interpret it as “totality”,”figure”,”structure”,”configuration” or “organized unity”.

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts” is its maximum. The main authors of Gestalt proposed alternatives to the dominant psychological paradigms and made great contributions to cognitive psychology .

This particular focus was a breath of fresh air and allowed people who did not feel represented by the main currents of psychology to find an alternative.

Gestalt Theory: Characteristics

• Its main predecessors of gestalt theory are philosophers: Thinkers such as Kant, Descartes or Husserl developed the theoretic basis on which this school developed. The psychologists belonging to this current were able to take their ideas to the laboratory and obtain amazing results.
• We must treat people as a whole: We cannot explore the different dimensions that shape us in isolation. A holistic approach is needed when speaking about mental health. The complexity of the human mind cannot be reduced. Gestalt theory explores the dynamic relationships that connect the various elements of reality. Gestalt theory does not conceive separating processes such as learning from memory.
• We are active in understanding reality: We do not all perceive reality, in the same way, we have our own vision. Each one structures the information they receive according to their previous experiences. Our mental representations do not correspond completely with those that exist in reality, we construct them ourselves. We are also able to adapt our mental processes and contents as new situations arise.
• They opposed the predominant schools in their time: Gestalt theory psychologists did not agree with approaches such as behaviorism , which limits human behavior to associations between stigmas and responses. This perspective leaves mental processes aside and does not contemplate the potential of human intelligence. On the other hand, they did not adhere to psychoanalysts either, seeing people as passive agents without willpower .
• Gestalt theory’s main study area is perception: Gestalt theorist focused especially on seeking simple and natural explanations that could be adapted to our natural way of perceiving reality. Through perception , we are able to acquire knowledge of the world, interact with it and connect with others.

Our senses and mental processes interact to allow us to perform tasks as varied as removing the hand from a burning surface or notice that the person speaking to us is upset by their frowning. Gestalt theory focuses on visual perception. However, their ideas have been adapted to fields such as music.

Gestalt Theory: Main contributions

Gestalt psychologists are known for their contributions to the study of the learning process and problem-solving. However, their most relevant contribution, which was stated by Wertheimer, is the elaboration of some basic laws that govern our perception.

Gestalt Theory Laws

We can see a host of examples of these principles around us. In addition, they are fully applicable to our daily life.

1. Law of Prägnanz

Perception tends to organize the elements in the simplest possible way. Our brain prefers harmonious compositions. Mental processes are not infinite, we cannot dedicate time and resources to everything around us. Therefore, we simplify what we perceive and prefer simplicity. In this picture, we don’t need any more data to know that we are looking at a cup.

2. Figure-ground law

We have all seen Rubin’s glass at one time or another, it is the best-known example of this phenomenon. We will have realized that it is impossible to perceive the faces and the cup at the same time.

3. Law of proximity

The elements closest to each other tend to form a group as if they were one set. If you look at three piles of candy, you’ll notice three groups instead of seeing all the candy separately. In this example, we perceive the objects in each box as a single block.

4. Law of similarity

Similar figures seem to have the same shape. Their similarity may be due to the fact that they have a similar color, shape or any other characteristic that allows us to draw a parallel between them. We know that each tree has its own characteristics; not all trees have exactly the same height and color. However, from this point of view, they seem to us to be practically the same because of their similarity.

5. Common Fate law

Elements that seem to move together towards a certain orientation are perceived as a whole. If we see some children running to an ice cream stand, we will look at them as a whole. However, we can also look at them one by one if we are interested. In this case, we perceive the group in a homogeneous way.

6: Law of Closure

We tend to mentally close the contours to simplify reality. If we see a slightly curved curve that is practically closed, we will notice a circumference. It is also possible to apply this law to verbal messages.

For example, advertisers release suggestive phrases for their audience to complete. This technique requires a little effort on the part of the public to be effective. However, it maintains its interest and can achieve greater involvement.

This photograph leads us to imagine a closed line that unites all people. We see that they are separate, but our brain reduces the information.

7. Law of Good Continuity

We prefer to ignore the abrupt changes in an image we are seeing. Generally speaking, we pay more attention to the characteristics of a stimulus that allow us to perceive a smooth continuity.

One example is that if we are walking around and notice on a poster an A covered in half by a street lamp, we will continue to know that the letter is A and read the text without difficulties. In this example, we can see the continuity of the branches.

Gestalt Theory: Applications

Basic research.

The study of basic psychological processes such as attention or perception has been influenced by Gestalt theory. Their research is fundamental for other authors to apply their discoveries to practice.

For example, advances in the field of perception make it possible for us to carry out programmes to improve road signs and avoid accidents. Their ideas continue to be reviewed and modified by experts to help us better understand how we work.

Problem solving

Gestalt psychologists believed that the circumstances are composed of several components that interact with each other. If we want to solve a problem we have to reorganize its components to discover a new solution. This idea can be extrapolated to all areas of our life. What do we have to do every day to solve a problem?

Wertheimer proposed the difference between productive thinking , which consists in carrying out creative reorganizations of the elements of the problems in order to solve them, and reproductive thinking , which is limited to applying the previous knowledge in a mechanical way.

Gestalt theory insists on using productive thinking, which will help us to reach insight. This term refers to the eureka moment, which takes place when we suddenly realize what the answer to our difficulties is.

Students should be more than just data recorders and learn to look for ways to solve their difficulties on their own. Practically all the contributions of the Gestalt can be integrated into the field of education. From their insights into mental processes to their ideas about therapy, they enable students to progress both academically and personally.

Communication

People linked to the world of communication and creativity, such as artists, designers or publicists, must know Gestalt Theory very well in order to attract the attention of their audience. Knowing how we interpret images is essential for them to be able to create works that allow them to transmit their messages and establish an effective dialogue with their audience.

When we see a poster saturated with visual elements and plagued with different typographies on a billboard, we are likely to ignore it directly. These laws allow us to understand that “less is more”.

If we want to compose memorable images that come directly to our recipients, we must select what? is the most important part of our message. We have to put it as clearly as possible. All the attention must be focused on the essentials without irrelevant distractions.

Gestalt Theory: Therapy

This therapy is approached from a humanistic approach , which considers people active beings and independent. It analyzes the human mind from its most transcendental side, explores its functioning from a holistic point of view and focuses on the positive aspects of life.

Gestalt theory therapy adopts the Kantian idea that we cannot know how things are in reality, but if we experience them. Each person presents his/her own thoughts, experiences, desires and other complexities. Our variability involves that each individual is considered individually. This therapy also has similarities with Buddhism, as it focuses on developing attention and awareness.

Gestalt theory therapy began to be developed by Fritz Perls in the 1940’s. For this author, each one of us has their own truth and he focused on the creative potential of each person. Perls emphasized that perception is the key to reality and we are responsible for changing it. He composed a sentence summarizing his thoughts:

I do what I do and you do what you do. I am not in this world to meet your expectations, nor are you in this world to meet my expectations. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we meet, it will be wonderful. If not, nothing can be done – Fritz Perls

Gestalt therapy wants us to live “here and now” without pretending to be something that we are not. The intention is for us to grow personally and have a clear identity. Therapist and patient collaborate in this process without establishing hierarchies, they are two people with a common objective.

What can Gestalt Theory give us?

We can apply everything we have read in this article to our daily life. The great advantages of Gestalt’s theory are its application to everyday fields and the simplicity of its approaches.

Your ideas help us to better understand how we process and interpret reality. For example, they explain some optical illusions or our behavior when we go down the street and group the various elements together instead of paying attention to each one.

In addition, Gestalt can help us in daily challenges as common as problem-solving, encouraging us to be more creative and organized . On the other hand, we can follow some of the indications of Gestalt therapy to promote our personal growth.

Criticism of Gestalt Theory

Their ideas are still successful, but they are not spared from critics. Some experts consider their perceptual organizational approaches to be vague and ambiguous. In addition, other professionals claim that their experiments were not scientific enough.

On the other hand, Gestalt therapy is blamed for its individualism. They propose that each person finds his or her own path in isolation rather than deepening his or her social side. This can lead to selfish behavior. However, its followers claim that we need to discover ourselves first in order to connect with others afterward.

There are different approaches to psychology and we cannot determine who is right. Even so, it is possible to combine different perspectives in order to elaborate more complete and integrative explanations.

Gestalt Theory: Fundamental Authors

These psychologists were the most important representatives of Gestalt Theory. Their ideas continue to be revised and inspire new theories today.

1. Wolfgang K ö hler

Founded this movement with Koffka and Wertheimer. His main contribution was learning by discovery and maintains that this process is active and dynamic.

He showed that chimpanzees try to solve problems by trial and error. After several failures in tasks such as reaching for food, the primates with whom he experimented seemed to reflect on the solution until they found it. In fact, they were then able to extrapolate it to similar new situations.

2. Max Wertheimer

The phenomena phi or apparent movement is its most revolutionary discovery. It consists in the perceiving movement from the succession of different fragmented images. For example, it happens when we perceive the succession of film frames as if it were a real movement.

3. Kurt Koffka

His contributions were elementary in several fields. He studied memory, learning, perception and also applied Gestalt to fields such as child psychology.

It emphasized the need to consider mental processes from a holistic point of view. He also helped Wertheimer in his research on the apparent movement by becoming involved as a subject.

4. Kurt Lewin

He was not one of the founders of Gestalt Theory. However, he was a prominent social psychologist who brought the ideas of Gestalt to this area. His study was more focused on motivation and psychosocial intervention using Gestalt.

These four psychologists were forced to emigrate to the United States after feeling threatened by Nazism.

Thank you so much for reading this article. We hope that the Gestalt Theory has been inspiring to you. If you have any questions or would like to make a contribution, please do not hesitate to comment.

This post is originally in Spanish written by Ainhoa Arranz, translated by Alejandra Salazar. 

Alejandra is a clinical and health psychologist. She is a child specialist with a diploma in evaluation and intervention in autism. She has worked in different schools with young children and private practice for over 6 years. She is interested in early childhood intervention, emotional intelligence, and attachment styles. As a brain and human behavior enthusiast, she is more than happy to answer your questions and share her experience.

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Gestalt Theory: Understanding Perception and Organization

Gestalt theory, a psychological framework developed in the early 20th century by German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka, provides valuable insights into how humans perceive and make sense of the world around them. The term “gestalt” itself translates to “form” or “whole” in German, emphasizing the theory’s focus on understanding patterns and configurations rather than isolated elements.

At its core, gestalt theory suggests that our minds naturally organize sensory information into meaningful wholes or coherent patterns. Instead of perceiving individual parts separately, we tend to perceive objects as complete entities with inherent relationships among their components. This holistic approach to perception allows us to recognize familiar objects and scenes effortlessly.

One of the fundamental principles of gestalt theory is known as “the law of proximity.” This principle states that elements that are close to each other tend to be perceived as belonging together. For example, when presented with a group of dots arranged closely in space, we will perceive them as forming a single shape or pattern rather than separate entities.

Overall, gestalt theory offers valuable insights into human perception and cognition by highlighting our innate tendency to organize sensory information into meaningful wholes. By understanding these underlying principles, we can gain a deeper appreciation for how our minds construct meaning from the world around us.

Overview of Gestalt Theory

Gestalt theory is a psychological framework that focuses on how people perceive and experience the world around them. It emphasizes that our perception is not simply a collection of individual elements, but rather, it is influenced by the way these elements are organized into meaningful patterns or “Gestalts.” In this section, we’ll delve into the key concepts and principles of Gestalt theory.

One fundamental principle of Gestalt theory is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This means that when we perceive something, we don’t just see individual objects or elements in isolation. Instead, our minds automatically organize these elements into cohesive wholes. For example, when looking at a painting, we don’t focus solely on each brushstroke or color patch; instead, we perceive it as a complete image with its own unique meaning and emotional impact.

Another important concept in Gestalt theory is known as “figure-ground relationship.” According to this principle, our minds naturally separate visual stimuli into distinct figures (the objects of interest) and background (the surrounding context). This separation allows us to focus our attention on specific elements while simultaneously perceiving their relation to the broader environment. For instance, when observing a tree in a forest, we can distinguish it from the other trees and appreciate its form despite being surrounded by foliage.

Gestalt psychology also highlights the role of perceptual grouping in shaping our perception. Our brains tend to group similar elements together based on various factors such as proximity (objects close to each other are seen as related), similarity (objects that share common features are grouped together), continuity (we tend to perceive smooth curves rather than abrupt changes), and closure (our tendency to fill in missing information to create complete shapes).

Additionally, Gestalt theorists emphasize that perception involves more than just visual stimuli; it encompasses all aspects of human experience including auditory, tactile, olfactory sensations, and even abstract concepts. Gestalt theory suggests that our minds naturally organize and interpret these diverse stimuli in a holistic manner, seeking patterns, meaning, and coherence.

By understanding the principles of Gestalt theory, we can gain insights into how our perception works and how we make sense of the world around us. It offers valuable perspectives for fields such as psychology, design, art, and even problem-solving. As we explore further in this article, we’ll delve into specific examples and applications of Gestalt theory to better grasp its practical implications.

Remember, this section is just the beginning of our exploration into Gestalt theory. Stay tuned for more fascinating insights and real-world examples that will deepen your understanding of this influential psychological framework.

Key Principles of Gestalt Theory

Gestalt theory, coined by German psychologists in the early 20th century, is a school of thought that emphasizes how individuals perceive and interpret the world around them. In this section, we’ll delve into the key principles of Gestalt theory that shed light on our perceptual experiences.

• The Law of Proximity: According to the law of proximity, objects that are close to each other are perceived as belonging together. This principle highlights how our brains naturally group elements based on their physical closeness. For example, imagine a series of dots scattered randomly on a page. Our minds instinctively organize them into clusters or patterns based on their proximity.
• The Law of Similarity: The law of similarity states that objects with similar features tend to be grouped together in our perception. Whether it’s shape, color, size, or texture, similarities between elements influence how we perceive and categorize them. Think about an array of differently shaped fruits displayed at a farmers’ market; we tend to group similar fruits together based on their shared characteristics.
• The Law of Closure: The law of closure suggests that our brains have a tendency to complete incomplete shapes or figures by filling in missing information. Even when presented with fragmented visual stimuli, we unconsciously connect the dots and perceive them as whole objects or forms. This principle explains why we can identify familiar symbols like logos even when they’re partially obscured.
• The Law of Figure-Ground Relationship: The law of figure-ground relationship describes how we perceive an image by differentiating between the main object (the figure) and its background (the ground). Our minds automatically separate an object from its surroundings to create distinct focal points in our perception. For instance, when looking at a photograph against a textured backdrop, we effortlessly distinguish between the subject and its environment.
• The Law of Continuity:

The law of continuity posits that our brains prefer to perceive continuous, smooth patterns rather than abrupt changes or disruptions. This principle suggests that we tend to follow the smoothest path when perceiving visual information and that our minds naturally connect elements along a common pathway. For example, when observing a winding river, we perceive it as a continuous flow rather than separate segments.

Understanding these key principles of Gestalt theory gives us insights into how our minds organize and make sense of the world. By recognizing these fundamental principles, we can better appreciate the complexities of perception and apply them in various design disciplines such as graphic design, architecture, and psychology.

Perception and Organization in Gestalt Theory

When it comes to understanding how we perceive the world around us, Gestalt theory provides valuable insights. This theory highlights that our minds have a natural inclination to organize sensory information into meaningful patterns and wholes, rather than perceiving individual elements in isolation.

One key concept in Gestalt theory is the idea of “figure-ground” perception. It suggests that we instinctively separate objects or figures from their background, allowing us to focus our attention on what stands out. For example, imagine looking at a photograph of a person standing in front of a beautiful landscape. Our mind automatically distinguishes between the person (the figure) and the background scenery (the ground), enabling us to perceive each element separately.

Another important principle within Gestalt theory is the notion of “closure.” Our brains tend to fill in missing information or gaps when presented with incomplete stimuli. This means that even if we are only given fragments or partial shapes, we can still recognize them as complete objects. For instance, if you see an image consisting of several disconnected lines forming an incomplete square, your mind will likely perceive it as a whole square.

Furthermore, Gestalt theory emphasizes how our minds naturally seek simplicity and order in visual perception. The principle of “simplicity” suggests that we tend to interpret complex stimuli by organizing them into simpler forms or patterns. By doing so, we make sense of what we see and reduce cognitive load. For instance, when presented with a scatterplot graph displaying various data points, our brain might automatically group similar points together based on proximity or shape.

Overall, understanding perception and organization through the lens of Gestalt theory sheds light on how our minds process visual information. It reveals our innate ability to form coherent perceptions by grouping elements together based on their relationships and characteristics. By grasping these principles, we can gain deeper insights into human cognition and enhance various fields such as design, psychology, and even marketing.

Gestalt Laws and Their Applications

Let’s delve into the fascinating world of Gestalt theory and explore its laws and practical applications. Understanding these principles can provide valuable insights into how we perceive and interpret the world around us.

• Law of Proximity: According to this principle, objects that are close together tend to be perceived as a group or related. For instance, imagine a group of people standing in a line. Even though they are separate individuals, our brain automatically groups them together due to their proximity.
• Law of Similarity: The law of similarity states that objects that share similar visual characteristics, such as shape, size, color, or texture, are perceived as belonging to the same group. Consider a collection of circles and squares arranged randomly on a page; we instinctively group the circles together and the squares together based on their similarity.
• Law of Closure: This principle suggests that our minds tend to fill in missing information or gaps in order to perceive whole shapes or patterns. For example, if you see an incomplete circle with a small gap at the bottom, your brain will naturally complete it as a full circle.
• Law of Continuity: The law of continuity proposes that our brains prefer smooth and continuous lines rather than abrupt changes in direction or pattern. When presented with intersecting lines or curves, we perceive them as flowing continuously rather than disjoined segments.
• Law of Figure-Ground Relationship: This principle deals with how we distinguish between an object (figure) and its background (ground). Our brains tend to focus on one element while perceiving others as less prominent or secondary. Think about how you can easily differentiate between words on a page and the blank space surrounding them.

These laws have various real-world applications across different fields:

• Graphic Design: Designers often utilize Gestalt principles to create visually appealing layouts by leveraging proximity, similarity, closure, continuity techniques.
• Advertising: Advertisers use these laws to capture viewers’ attention and create memorable visuals that communicate their message effectively.
• User Experience (UX) Design: Applying Gestalt principles in UX design helps designers create intuitive interfaces, ensuring users can easily navigate through websites or applications.
• Psychology and Perception: The study of Gestalt theory has contributed significantly to our understanding of human perception and cognitive processes.

By recognizing the power of Gestalt laws and implementing them consciously, we can enhance communication, design, and overall user experience in various aspects of our lives.

Gestalt Therapy: A Practical Approach

When it comes to therapy, there are various approaches that aim to help individuals overcome challenges and improve their well-being. One such approach is Gestalt therapy, which focuses on the here and now, emphasizing self-awareness and personal responsibility. In this section, I’ll delve into the practical aspects of Gestalt therapy and how it can be applied in real-life situations.

• Awareness in the Present Moment: Gestalt therapy places great importance on being fully present in the current moment. This means paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and behaviors as they arise. By cultivating awareness of what is happening internally and externally, individuals can gain insight into their patterns of behavior and make more conscious choices.

For example, let’s say someone is struggling with anger management issues. Through Gestalt therapy techniques like focusing on bodily sensations associated with anger or exploring the underlying emotions triggering this response, individuals can develop a greater understanding of their anger triggers. This heightened awareness empowers them to respond differently in similar situations in the future.

• Taking Responsibility for One’s Actions: Another key aspect of Gestalt therapy is the emphasis on personal responsibility for one’s actions and choices. It encourages individuals to acknowledge that they have control over how they perceive situations and how they respond to them.

For instance, consider a person who constantly blames external circumstances for their unhappiness or lack of success. In Gestalt therapy sessions, they would be encouraged to explore their role in creating these outcomes and take ownership of their choices. By recognizing their ability to make different decisions or change perspectives, individuals become active participants in shaping their own lives.

• Integration of Parts: Gestalt therapists often work with clients to help integrate different parts of themselves that may feel disconnected or conflicting. This involves exploring inner dialogue between these parts and finding ways to bring them together harmoniously.

Let’s imagine someone struggling with indecisiveness and feeling torn between different desires or values. Through Gestalt therapy techniques like the “empty chair” exercise, where individuals have a dialogue with imagined aspects of themselves, they can explore conflicting thoughts and emotions. This process facilitates self-acceptance and integration, leading to greater clarity and decision-making ability.

In summary, Gestalt therapy offers a practical approach to personal growth and healing by focusing on present awareness, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and integrating different parts of oneself. By incorporating these principles into therapeutic practice, individuals can develop a deeper understanding of themselves and work towards making positive changes in their lives.

Critiques and Controversies Surrounding Gestalt Theory

When it comes to the field of psychology, Gestalt theory has undoubtedly made its mark. However, like any prominent theory, it is not without its fair share of critiques and controversies. Let’s delve into a few key points that have sparked debate among scholars and researchers.

• Reductionism: One criticism often leveled against Gestalt theory is its perceived lack of emphasis on reductionism. Some argue that the holistic approach advocated by Gestalt psychologists undermines the importance of breaking down complex psychological processes into smaller components for analysis. Critics contend that this limits our understanding of human behavior and cognition.
• Subjectivity and Interpretation: Another point of contention revolves around the subjective nature of perception in Gestalt theory. While proponents highlight how individuals actively organize sensory information into meaningful patterns, skeptics argue that interpretation plays a significant role in determining these patterns. This subjectivity raises questions about the reliability and universality of perceptual organization principles proposed by Gestalt psychologists.
• Empirical Evidence: In scientific circles, rigorous empirical evidence holds great significance when evaluating theories. Some critics claim that the experimental support for certain aspects of Gestalt theory is limited or inconclusive. They argue that more research is needed to validate some fundamental assertions put forth by this influential school of thought.
• Cultural Bias: A recurring concern within critiques surrounding many psychological theories is their potential cultural bias. Similar concerns arise with respect to Gestalt theory, as some scholars question whether its principles are applicable across diverse cultural contexts or if they are rooted in Western perspectives alone.
• Integration with Other Theories: Lastly, there are debates about how well Gestalt theory integrates with other branches of psychology and related disciplines such as neuroscience or cognitive psychology. Critics argue that despite its contributions, the gestalt framework might not fully account for all aspects of human behavior and cognition when considered alongside other theoretical frameworks.

It’s important to note that these criticisms and controversies do not negate the valuable contributions made by Gestalt theory. Rather, they serve as thought-provoking avenues for further exploration and refinement of our understanding of human perception and cognition.

In the next section, we’ll explore some real-world applications of Gestalt theory in various fields to showcase its practical relevance. Stay tuned!

Influence of Gestalt Theory on Modern Psychology

Gestalt theory, with its emphasis on the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, has had a profound influence on modern psychology. By examining how individuals perceive and interpret information, Gestalt theory has provided key insights into human cognition and behavior. Let’s delve into some examples that highlight the impact of this theory.

• Perception and Organization: Gestalt psychologists emphasized that our minds have an innate tendency to organize sensory stimuli into meaningful patterns. An example of this is the concept of figure-ground perception, where we naturally distinguish between objects (figures) and their surrounding background (ground). This understanding has greatly influenced research in visual perception, advertising design, and even user interface development.
• Problem-Solving and Insight: Gestalt theory also sheds light on problem-solving processes by emphasizing the role of insight or “aha” moments. According to this perspective, problem-solving involves restructuring our mental representation of a problem to achieve a sudden realization of the solution. This notion has informed various fields like education, cognitive psychology, and creativity studies.
• Holistic Approach in Therapy: The principles of Gestalt therapy align closely with its theoretical counterpart. Instead of focusing solely on isolated symptoms or behaviors, therapists using this approach aim to understand clients as integrated beings within their environment. The therapeutic process focuses on fostering self-awareness, personal growth, and enhancing relationships through exploring emotions in the present moment.
• Social Perception: Gestalt principles extend beyond individual perception to social contexts as well. Social psychologists have applied these ideas to explore how people form impressions about others based on fragmented information or cues they receive when encountering someone for the first time. This research highlights how our minds automatically fill in missing details to create a more coherent understanding of others’ personalities.
• Group Dynamics: Understanding group dynamics is another area significantly influenced by Gestalt theory concepts such as proximity, similarity, and closure. These principles help explain how individuals form affiliations, make group decisions, and perceive themselves as part of a larger collective. Such insights have informed fields like organizational psychology and leadership development.

Gestalt theory has left an indelible mark on modern psychology by offering novel perspectives on perception, problem-solving, therapy, social cognition, and group dynamics. Its holistic approach continues to shape our understanding of human behavior and enrich various domains within the field of psychology.

In this article, we have explored the fascinating concept of Gestalt theory and its impact on psychology and perception. Let’s summarize the key points we’ve discussed:

• Perception is more than the sum of its parts: According to Gestalt theory, our minds naturally organize sensory information into meaningful patterns and wholes. We perceive objects as unified entities rather than a collection of individual elements.
• The principles of Gestalt theory: We have examined several fundamental principles that govern how we perceive visual stimuli, including figure-ground relationship, proximity, similarity, closure, and continuity. These principles help us make sense of the world around us and facilitate efficient processing of visual information.
• Applications in various fields: Gestalt theory has found applications in many domains beyond psychology. It has influenced art, design, advertising, user experience (UX) design, and even problem-solving techniques. Understanding how people perceive and interpret visual information can greatly enhance communication and effectiveness in these areas.
• Limitations and criticisms: While Gestalt theory offers valuable insights into perception, it also faces criticism for oversimplifying complex cognitive processes. Some argue that it neglects other factors such as attention and memory that influence perception.
• Ongoing research: Despite being introduced over a century ago, researchers continue to explore the intricacies of Gestalt theory and its implications today. Advancements in neuroscience allow us to delve deeper into understanding how our brains process visual stimuli.

In conclusion,

Gestalt theory provides a framework for understanding how our minds organize sensory information to create meaningful perceptions of the world around us. By studying these perceptual principles, we gain insights into human cognition that can be applied across various disciplines.

Remembering that perception is not simply about individual elements but about the whole picture helps designers create visually appealing graphics or interfaces while advertisers use this knowledge to engage their target audience effectively.

As technology advances further and our understanding grows deeper through ongoing research efforts, we can expect to uncover even more about the intricacies of perception and its implications for our daily lives.

So, next time you marvel at a beautiful painting or get captivated by an engaging advertisement, remember that Gestalt theory plays a significant role in shaping your perception.

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What Is Gestalt Psychology?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

Gestalt psychology is a  school of thought  that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole. When trying to make sense of the world around us, Gestalt psychology suggests that we do not simply focus on every small component. Instead, our minds tend to perceive objects as elements of more complex systems.

Emily Roberts / Verywell

A core belief in Gestalt psychology is holism , or that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This school of psychology has played a major role in the modern development of the study of human sensation and perception .

Gestalt Meaning

Gestalt is a German word that roughly means "configuration" or the way things are put together to form a whole object.

History of Gestalt Psychology

Originating in the work of Max Wertheimer , Gestalt psychology formed in part as a response to the structuralism of  Wilhelm Wundt .

While followers of structuralism were interested in breaking down psychological matters into their smallest possible parts, Gestalt psychologists wanted instead to look at the totality of the mind and behavior. Guided by the principle of holism, Wertheimer and his followers identified instances where perception was based on seeing things as a complete whole, not as separate components.

A number of thinkers influenced the development of Gestalt psychology, including Immanuel Kant, Ernst Mach, and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Wertheimer developed Gestalt psychology after observing what he called the phi phenomenon while watching alternating lights on a railway signal. The phi phenomenon is an optical illusion where two stationary objects seem to move if they are shown appearing and disappearing in rapid succession. In other words, we perceive movement where there is none.

Based on his observations of the phi phenomenon, Wertheimer concluded that we perceive things by seeing the whole perception, not by understanding individual parts. In the example of blinking lights at a train station, the whole we perceive is that one light appears to move quickly between two points. The reality is that two separate lights are blinking rapidly without moving at all.

Influential Gestalt Psychologists

Wertheimer's observations of the phi phenomenon are widely credited as the beginning of Gestalt psychology and he went on to publicize the core principles of the field. Other psychologists also had an influence on this school of psychology.

Wolfgang Köhler : Köhler connected Gestalt psychology to the natural sciences, arguing that organic phenomena are examples of holism at work. He also studied hearing and looked at problem-solving abilities in chimpanzees.

Kurt Koffka : Together with Wertheimer and Köhler, Koffka is considered a founder of the field. He applied the concept of Gestalt to child psychology , arguing that infants first understand things holistically before learning to differentiate them into parts. Koffka played a key role in bringing Gestalt principles to the United States.

Principles of Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt psychology helped introduce the idea that human perception is not just about seeing what is actually present in the world around us. It is also heavily influenced by our motivations and expectations .

Wertheimer created principles to explain how Gestalt perception functions. Some of the most important principles of Gestalt theory are:

• Prägnanz : This foundational principle states that we naturally perceive things in their simplest form or organization.
• Similarity : This Gestalt principle suggests that we naturally group similar items together based on elements like color, size, and orientation. An example would be grouping dogs based on whether they are small or large, or if they are big or small.
• Proximity : The principle of proximity states that objects near each other tend to be viewed as a group.
• Continuity : According to this Gestalt principle, we perceive elements arranged on a line or curve as related to each other, while elements that are not on the line or curve are seen as separate.
• Closure : This suggests that elements that form a closed object will be perceived as a group. We will even fill in missing information to create closure and make sense of an object. An example of this Gestalt psychology principle is using negative space to give the illusion that a particular shape exists when it doesn't.
• Common region : This Gestalt psychology principle states that we tend to group objects together if they're located in the same bounded area. (For example, objects inside a box tend to be considered a group.)

Uses for Gestalt Psychology

There are several uses for Gestalt psychology today, some of which include those related to therapy, design, product development, and learning.

Gestalt Therapy

Gestalt therapy is based on the idea that overall perception depends on the interaction between many factors. Among these factors are our past experiences, current environment, thoughts, feelings, and needs. Gestalt therapy involves key concepts such as awareness , unfinished business, and personal responsibility.

The main goal of Gestalt therapy is to help us focus on the present . While past context is important for viewing yourself as a whole, a Gestalt therapist will encourage you to keep your focus on your present experience.

Research suggests that Gestalt therapy is effective at treating symptoms of depression and anxiety , and it may help people gain confidence and increase feelings of self-efficacy and self-kindness. It is often a helpful way to structure group therapy .

The therapeutic process is reliant on the relationship between the client and therapist . As a client, you must feel comfortable enough to develop a close partnership with your therapist, and they must be able to create an unbiased environment where you can discuss your thoughts and experiences.

Beginning in the 1920s, designers began incorporating Gestalt principles in their work. Gestalt psychology led these designers to believe that we all share certain characteristics in the way we perceive visual objects and that we all have a natural ability to see "good" design.

Designers embraced Gestalt concepts, using our perception of contrast, color, symmetry, repetition, and proportion to create their work. Gestalt psychology influenced other design concepts, such as:

• Figure-ground relationship : This describes the contrast between a focal object (like a word, phrase, or image) and the negative space around it. Designers often use this to create impact.
• Visual hierarchy : Designers use the way we perceive and group visual objects to establish a visual hierarchy, ensuring that the most important word or image attracts our attention first.
• Associativity : This concept involves the principle of proximity. Designers often use this to determine where to place important objects, including text elements such as headlines, captions, and lists.

Product Development

Product designers use Gestalt psychology to inform their decisions during the development process. Consumers tend to like products that follow Gestalt principles.

This influence can be seen in the appearance of the products themselves and in their packaging and advertising. We can also see Gestalt principles at work in apps and digital products. Concepts like proximity, similarity, and continuity have become standards of our expected user experience.

Learning and Education

The Gestalt Theory of Learning relies on the law of simplicity. In simple terms, it states that each learning stimulus is perceived in its simplest form.

The psychology behind this learning theory states that we use our senses and previous experiences to gain knowledge about the world around us. It also suggests that we learn from the methods by which we are taught, in addition to being impacted by classroom environments and the academic culture.

Impact of Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt psychology has largely been subsumed by other types of psychology, but it had an enormous influence on the field. Researchers like Kurt Lewin and Kurt Goldstein were influenced by Gestalt concepts before going on to make important contributions to psychology.

Gestalt theory is also important in that the idea of the whole being different than its parts has influenced our understanding of the brain and social behavior. Gestalt theory still impacts how we understand vision and the ways that context, visual illusions, and information processing impact our perception.

A Word From Verywell

Gestalt therapy continues to influence many areas of our lives. Its emphasis on a holistic approach plays an important role in cognitive psychology , perception, and social psychology , among other fields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gestalt psychology was founded by Max Wertheimer, a Czechoslovakian psychologist who also developed a lie detection device to objectively study courtroom testimony. ]Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Koffka are also considered co-founders of the Gestalt theory.

Most of the foundational principles of Gestalt psychology explain how we group things, such as by similarity, proximity, continuity, closure, and common reason. Prägnanz is another Gestalt principle and says that we tend to perceive complex things in their most simple form. Prägnanz is sometimes referred to as the law of simplicity, a concept that was first presented in 1914.

Gestalt psychology has influenced how we study perception and sensation. It also increases our understanding of how our cognitive processes influence the way we behave socially.

Some therapists use Gestalt psychology to help patients focus on the present over the past. Designers and product developers also use Gestalt theory to make their creations more appealing or to draw focus to certain elements over others. Educators may also use Gestalt principles to help their students learn.

Jäkel F, Singh M, Wichmann FA, Herzog MH. An overview of quantitative approaches in Gestalt perception . Vis Res . 2016;126:3-8. doi:10.1016/j.visres.2016.06.004

Wagemans J, Elder JH, Kubovy M, et al. A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization . Psychol Bull . 2012;138(6):1172-1217. doi:10.1037/a0029333

Bonacchi S, Czerniak S. Introduction: Gestalt as structure principles in science, art and language . Dialogue Universal. 2015;25(4):7-9. doi:10.5840/du201525480

Gundlach H. Max Wertheimer, Habilitation candidate at the Frankfurt Psychological Institute . History Psychol . 2014;17(2):134-48. doi:10.1037/a0036159

Wagemans J. Historical and conceptual background: Gestalt theory . In: Wagemans J, ed., The Oxford Handbook of Perceptual Organization . Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199686858.013.026

Wagemans J, Feldman J, Gepshtein S, et al. A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception II. Conceptual and theoretical foundations . Psychol Bull . 2012;138(6):1218-1252. doi:10.1037/a0029334

O'Leary E. Key concepts of Gestalt therapy and processing . Gestalt Therapy Around the World . doi:10.1002/9781118323410.ch2

Raffagnino R. Gestalt therapy effectiveness: A systematic review of empirical evidence .  Open J Soc Sci . 2019;7(6):66-83. doi:10.4236/jss.2019.76005

Moszkowicz J. Gestalt and graphic design: An exploration of the humanistic and therapeutic effects of visual organization .  Des Issues . 2011;27(4):56-67. doi:10.1162/DESI_a_00105

O’Connor Z. Colour, contrast and Gestalt theories of perception: The impact in contemporary visual communications design .  Color Res Appl . 2015;40(1):85-92. doi:10.1002/col.21858

Valencia-Romero A, Lugo J. An immersive virtual discrete choice experiment for elicitation of product aesthetics using Gestalt principles . Design Sci . 2017;3:E11. doi:10.1017/dsj.2017.12

Liang Y. Application of Gestalt psychology in product human-machine interface design . IOP Conf Series: Materials Sci Engineer . 2018;392:062054. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/392/6/062054

Lee C. Instructional design models and theories: The Gestalt psychology of learning . Arizona State University.

Britannica. Max Wertheimer: Czech psychologist .

Koenderink J, van Doorn A, Pinna B. Measures of Prägnanz? Gestalt Theory . 2018;40(1):7-28. doi:10.2478/gth-2018-0002

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• Media Center

Gestalt Principles

The basic idea, theory, meet practice.

TDL is an applied research consultancy. In our work, we leverage the insights of diverse fields—from psychology and economics to machine learning and behavioral data science—to sculpt targeted solutions to nuanced problems.

Why do we see animal shapes in the clouds or faces on tree trunks? The answer lies in how our brains make sense of the world—by identifying patterns to help us understand what we see. This process makes it easier to navigate our surroundings. Imagine how confusing life would be if we couldn’t recognize a tree as anything other than a tangle of sticks and leaves!

This is the main idea behind Gestalt psychology, a school of thought that suggests our minds perceive objects as whole elements rather than collections of smaller components. 1 In an effort to simplify what we’re looking at, our brains arrange the individual pieces of an image so we can see the big picture. As a result, we automatically fill in missing information, group similar items together, and focus on elements that stand out.

Several rules of perceptual organization, called Gestalt principles, emerged from this school of thought. Essentially, Gestalt principles are laws of human perception that explain how we simplify complex images by grouping objects and recognizing patterns.

Before we explore each principle in detail, it’s important to acknowledge their application in design. By considering the laws of human perception, designers can manipulate design components—including colors, shapes, sizes, and white space—to convey meaning. The resulting products are often more aesthetic, user-friendly, and functional.

You can see examples of this on nearly every major shopping website. When you land on Amazon’s homepage, for example, you immediately notice the search bar at the top. Bright white against a dark background, it’s impossible to miss! This results from your brain simplifying the complex information on the page and singling out the one element that looks different.

The whole is other than the sum of the parts. - Gestalt psychologist Kurt Koffka

There are several principles in Gestalt theory. While some have been added over the years, the following seven laws are the ones most commonly associated with Gestalt psychology.

Similarity: This first principle describes how we group similar items together based on their shape, size, color, and other similar attributes. Importantly, we tend to do this regardless of how close the items are together.

We see this frequently in website design. For example, brands often use different fonts for headings and paragraph text to signal that these text elements serve two different purposes.

Designers can also apply the similarity principle to highlight certain items, making them stand out against a sea of complex information. Say you have a series of white boxes with black text. Making one of the boxes black with white text will give it more importance in the eyes of your viewer.

Proximity: Proximity is another way we group items that lack clear borders. According to this principle, we perceive items close together as part of a group and items farther apart as separate. In UX design, the proximity principle is often used to group items without surrounding them with hard borders. This conveys an organizational structure to the viewer while keeping websites clean and minimal.

You can see this used on many news websites where thumbnails, headlines, and snippets of text are grouped together as cards on the homepage. These websites often add white space between each card (or grouping) to indicate that they are separate from each other.

Continuation: Next up, the principle of continuation describes how we try to follow a smooth path with our eyes when viewing something. As a result, when items are arranged in a continuous line, we tend to perceive them as related. 

This is a valuable tool for encouraging people to look at something specific. Because viewers will follow the smoothest and simplest path when viewing a design, placing important information along this path is key.

Navigation bars, like the one on the Amazon website mentioned earlier, almost always follow the principle of continuation. When navigation links are arranged in a row, our eyes effortlessly move from one to the other. Therefore, placing important links in the navigation bar of a website ensures people will see them.

Closure: The fourth principle, closure, explains how our brains fill in missing parts of an image. If an image is missing something, such as an outline, we simply fill in the blanks and perceive the picture as a whole.

The closure principle is often used in logo design to create minimal logos that appear sleek and modern. The “A” in the Adobe logo is a great example of this in practice. Designers also use the closure principle when they show a partial image to the right or left of a slider. This tells the viewer that there is more to the image, encouraging them to swipe or scroll.

Figure-ground: Similarly, the figure-ground principle explains how we subconsciously separate images into a foreground and a background. When an image contains more than one object, our brains typically interpret the smaller object as the foreground figure. Once we’ve determined the foreground figure, we focus on this element over the background.

Designers often use this principle to draw focus to something, such as a pop-up window containing important text. Notice how the rest of the site often darkens or blurs when a window pops up on your screen? This allows all the other content to fade into the background, making the pop-up the main point of focus.

Symmetry and order: The law of symmetry and order is another valuable grouping principle. It states that when we see symmetrical  shapes or elements, we tend to perceive them as a group. This gives a sense of balance to what we’re viewing. As a result, we tend to find symmetrical  designs pleasing, and conversely, asymmetrical  designs awkward.

Modern web design is rooted in this idea of symmetrical  balance. Today, most designers strive to create a straightforward user experience by maintaining a sense of order on the page. Think about how websites looked back in the early days of the internet—riddled with random colors, textures, icons, images, and other unbalanced elements. These designs are hard to look at because our brains struggle to make sense of them. A web page with a balanced layout, on the other hand, creates a harmonious user experience and makes it easy for people to find what they’re looking for.

Common fate: Finally, the common fate principle explains how we perceive elements together if they appear to be moving in the same direction. Funny enough, things don’t have to be moving for this to occur. Even if items give the impression of movement, like a picture of a flock of geese flying in the same direction, our brains group them together. Of course, animated effects (such as drop-down menus or parallax scrolling) are ideal candidates for applying the common fate principle.

Once again, many designers use this principle in website navigation menus. By applying the same hover effect to each navigation menu item, perhaps by drawing a little line under the text, the menu feels cohesive and predictable.

The Gestalt school of thought emerged in Austria and Germany in the 1920s, founded by psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, and Kurt Koffka. 2

Wertheimer was one of the first to introduce the Gestalt school when he published a 1912 paper on the perception of movement. This new theory of perception rejected associationism and structuralist schools of thought—the dominant views at the time. These original schools of thought were founded on the idea that each of our experiences is a collection of fragments, distinct elements, or elementary sensations.

Wertheimer felt that trying to understand perception in this way was misleading, and by rejecting these leading schools of thought, he attempted to humanize the scientific study of perception. In his 1912 paper, he recounted some of the first studies on the perception of motion. In his experiments, he noted that two lights flickering on and off in sequence could appear as a single light moving from one position to another. Wetheimer’s paper revolutionized the study of perception and established the Gestalt school of psychology, paving the way for further research in the field.

Kohler and Koffka, both subjects in Wertheimer’s original study, expanded on his work with their own contributions to the theory. In a paper published in 1917, Kohler recounted a series of animal studies. He claimed that animals seemed to learn by gaining sudden insight into the structure of a problem rather than learning through trial and error. This supported the theory that we perceive elements as a whole rather than a collection of individual elements.

Following his colleagues in the study of perception, Koffka introduced the Gestalt idea to the American audience when he published the first English-written paper on the subject in 1922. Wertheimer then published a comprehensive paper in 1923 explaining the individual Gestalt principles. After this, the trio worked together to further develop the Gestalt theory and explore how Gestalt principles could explain issues of perception, problem-solving, and learning.

Consequences

From the 1920s onward, designers began incorporating Gestalt principles into their work. The principles quickly gained prominence in the fields of graphic design, visual arts, and later web development as people recognized how they could influence user experience. Today, nearly every designer learns about Gestalt principles at some point.

These principles help designers decide how to best convey meaning, draw attention to certain elements on a web page, ensure products work as expected, and encourage users to take a desired action (like clicking a button or playing a video). A designer might consult Gestalt principles to determine if and how they should apply gradients, shading, outlines, colors, fonts, animations, and item groupings to improve their product. The overarching goal of using Gestalt principles in design is to ensure products solve problems in a way that’s intuitive and easy to use.

Controversies

Constructivism as an alternative explanation.

Like all major schools of thought, Gestalt theory is the focus of many criticisms. Most commonly, critics argue that Gestalt principles are more descriptive than explanatory.3 They don’t explain why our brains group items together in these interesting ways, just that they do. This explanation implies that Gestalt principles are an innate form of organization. In other words, it’s just how the brain works by default. Critics dislike this simplistic argument and have introduced alternative explanations for the Gestalt laws of perception.

One of these alternative views is constructivist theory. While Gestalt theory suggests our brains naturally group items together according to the various laws of perception described above, constructivism suggests that these principles are mental shortcuts rooted in our learned experiences.4 This is based on the idea that we use our existing knowledge and experiences to interpret what we’re seeing.

Designers often use constructivist approaches, considering the prior knowledge of their users or customers when making design decisions. For example, web designers assume that people have seen a button before and understand that clicking it will do something. If users didn’t know what a button looked like, they would pass it over as any other unclickable element on a web page. This also allows designers to use familiar symbols, such as shopping cart icons, in place of text.

Despite these criticisms, Gestalt principles do offer valuable insight into human perception, even if they fail to adequately explain the underlying mechanisms behind the cognitive process.

Competing Principles

Kubovy and Van der Berg explored another issue with Gestalt principles in a 2008 paper,4 questioning the relative importance of each principle when more than one occurs at the same time. You might be asking the same question: how does one principle win over another when they’re competing? Although many researchers have tried to quantify the principles to measure their respective effects, there is still a lot of room for research in this area.

When Gestalt Principles Lead to Bad Design

Critics have also raised concerns about relying on Gestalt principles to guide design decisions. While these laws of perception often lead to pleasing aesthetics and user-friendly design, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the principles can hurt the user experience. This happens when the principles are applied improperly or used excessively. For example, web designers might create layouts that are too symmetrical, leading to a monotonous design that lacks visual interest. As a result, designers must be careful to avoid over-reliance on these principles.

Gestalt principles are widely mentioned in various industries, with an obvious focus on web design. These principles, rooted in the psychology of perception, have innovated the aesthetics of digital design and found various applications in marketing. From determining the ideal layout of a webpage to designing apps that are intuitive to use, designers around the world leverage Gestalt principles every day. Let’s explore two case studies to learn how brands use the principles to improve user experience.

Minimal Web Design

Over the last decade or so, web design has shifted toward minimalism. Using the grouping powers of Gestalt principles, brands are steering away from the excessive use of borders, shadows, gradients, and other elements that can cause a website to appear cluttered. As a result, websites are becoming more clean and minimal.

In one case study, Somayeh Mehrizi Sani and Yeganeh Keyvan Shokooh explored the application of Gestalt principles on commercial websites.6 Focusing on three of the top brands in the technology industry (Apple, Microsoft, and IMB), they found that these brands use Gestalt principles to organize visual elements, reducing confusion for viewers and allowing people to interact with websites more effectively.

Take a look at the Microsoft homepage to see this for yourself. Instead of grouping elements with hard borders, which would clutter the page, they use the Gestalt principles of proximity and similarity to group information together. The resulting website is simple and easy to navigate.

Social Media Applications

Gestalt principles also surface in discussions within social media marketing circles as guides for creating cohesive account pages. Take Instagram, for instance. On the platform, businesses often leverage the principle of similarity by using consistent colors, shapes, imagery, animations, fonts, or icons across all their image posts. This creates a smooth and enjoyable experience for the viewer. It also ensures each post flows into the next, encouraging viewers to keep scrolling on the page.

Take a look at some of the best brands on Instagram . Notice how they all maintain a consistent aesthetic across their posts? Each of these brands has mastered the art of using Gestalt principles to create a cohesive page that truly captivates the viewer.

Related TDL Content

Gestalt Psychology

As we mentioned, Gestalt principles are an application of the theories developed by Gestalt psychologists. Beyond its use in design, the Gestalt school of thought also comes up in discussions of philosophy, theories of learning, and therapeutic applications. Check out this article to learn more about the origin and evolution of Gestalt psychology.

Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

Designers often use principles of human perception, such as Gestalt principles, to create designs that are aesthetic and minimal. Keeping designs simple is a great way to reduce the cognitive load on viewers and therefore improve the user experience. This article explores our bias toward simplicity and explains why minimalism is aesthetically pleasing.

• Dejan Todorovic (2008) Gestalt principles. Scholarpedia , 3(12):5345. doi:10.4249/scholarpedia.5345
• Baker, David B., ed. (13 January 2012). The Oxford Handbook of the History of Psychology: Global Perspectives. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 576. ISBN 978-0-19-536655-6.
• Wagemans J, Elder JH, Kubovy M, Palmer SE, Peterson MA, Singh M, von der Heydt R. (2012) A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization. Psychol Bull, 138(6):1172-217. doi: 10.1037/a0029333
• J., Norman. (2000). Perceptual Constancy: Direct versus Constructivist Theories. 11221-11224. doi: 10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/01452-2
• Kubovy, M., & van den Berg, M. (2008). The whole is equal to the sum of its parts: A probabilistic model of grouping by proximity and similarity in regular patterns. Psychological Review , 115(1), 131–154. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.115.1.131
• Somayeh, Mehrizi, Sani & Yeganeh, Keyvan, Shokooh. (2016). Minimalism in designing user interface of commercial websites based on Gestalt visual perception laws (Case study of three top brands in technology scope). IEEE Xplore. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICWR.2016.7498455

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A Gestalt Perspective on the Psychology of Thinking

• First Online: 11 November 2009

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• Michael Wertheimer 4  

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Gestalt theory, one of the major “schools” of psychology during the first half of the twentieth century, recently returned to prominence because of the enormous relevance to current research in cognitive science and other areas. Core concepts in Gestalt theory are dynamic self-distribution, structure, relational determination, organization, Prägnanz, reorganization, insight, and understanding. The most basic principle of Gestalt theory is that most wholes in nature are not merely the sums of their constituent elements, nor just more than the sums of their parts, but qualitatively entirely different from some additive product. Gestalten are dynamic structures the qualities and nature of which determine the place, role, and function of their constituent parts. Several examples illustrate how productive human thinking involves transforming a confused, opaque, incomprehensible problem situation into a clear, clean Gestalt or organization which makes sense, is coherent, and generates insight about the genuine nature of the problem structure and its solution.

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Wertheimer, M. (2010). A Gestalt Perspective on the Psychology of Thinking. In: Glatzeder, B., Goel, V., Müller, A. (eds) Towards a Theory of Thinking. On Thinking. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03129-8_4

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Gestalt psychology.

• Horst Gundlach Horst Gundlach University of Würzburg, Adolf-Würth-Center for the History of Psychology, Retired
• https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.488
• Published online: 31 March 2020

Gestalt psychology is an holistic approach to psychology launched in 1910 by three psychologists: Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka. It was conceived to oppose elementary or atomistic psychology, the conception that psychical processes consist of elements whose associations produce the contents experienced in the mind or soul. Instead, Gestalt psychology holds that configurations or, in German, Gestalten , not these hypothetical elements, are the primary material underlying experience. Beginning with research in perception, the Gestalt approach was soon applied to other fields of psychology. Gestalt theory, inspired by field theories in physics, tried to lay a common groundwork for psychology, physiology, and physics. The Gestalt movement originated in Germany, but the three protagonists for personal and political reasons resettled in the United States where the movement became an important force combatting the dominance of behaviorism. The Gestalt approach was especially fruitful in empirical psychology, but it did not fulfill the promise of turning psychology into a unified science based on a common theoretical ground.

• Gestalt theory
• Isomorphism
• Max Wertheimer
• Kurt Koffka
• Wolfgang Köhler

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Home » Learning Theories » Gestalt Theory (Wertheimer)

Gestalt Theory (Wertheimer)

Along with Kohler and Koffka, Max Wertheimer was one of the principal proponents of Gestalt theory which emphasized higher-order cognitive processes in the midst of behaviorism. The focus of Gestalt theory was the idea of “grouping”, i.e., characteristics of stimuli cause us to structure or interpret a visual field or problem in a certain way (Wertheimer, 1922). The primary factors that determine grouping were: (1) proximity – elements tend to be grouped together according to their nearness, (2) similarity – items similar in some respect tend to be grouped together, (3) closure – items are grouped together if they tend to complete some entity, and (4) simplicity – items will be organized into simple figures according to symmetry, regularity, and smoothness. These factors were called the laws of organization and were explained in the context of perception and problem-solving.

Wertheimer was especially concerned with problem-solving. Werthiemer (1959) provides a Gestalt interpretation of problem-solving episodes of famous scientists (e.g., Galileo, Einstein) as well as children presented with mathematical problems. The essence of successful problem-solving behavior according to Wertheimer is being able to see the overall structure of the problem: “A certain region in the field becomes crucial, is focused; but it does not become isolated. A new, deeper structural view of the situation develops, involving changes in functional meaning, the grouping, etc. of the items. Directed by what is required by the structure of a situation for a crucial region, one is led to a reasonable prediction, which like the other parts of the structure, calls for verification, direct or indirect. Two directions are involved: getting a whole consistent picture, and seeing what the structure of the whole requires for the parts.” (p 212).

Application

Gestalt theory applies to all aspects of human learning, although it applies most directly to perception and problem-solving. The work of  Gibson  was strongly influenced by Gestalt theory.

The classic example of Gestalt principles provided by Wertheimer is children finding the area of parallelograms. As long as the parallelograms are regular figures, a standard procedure can be applied (making lines perpendicular from the corners of the base). However, if a parallelogram with a novel shape or orientation is provided, the standard procedure will not work and children are forced to solve the problem by understanding the true structure of a parallelogram (i.e., the figure can be bisected anywhere if the ends are joined).

• The learner should be encouraged to discover the underlying nature of a topic or problem (i.e., the relationship among the elements).
• Gaps, incongruities, or disturbances are an important stimulus for learning
• Instruction should be based upon the laws of organization: proximity, closure, similarity and simplicity.
• Ellis, W.D. (1938). A Source Book of Gestalt Psychology. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World.
• Wertheimer, M. (1923). Laws of organization in perceptual forms. First published as Untersuchungen zur Lehre von der Gestalt II, in  Psycologische Forschung ,  4 , 301-350. Translation published in Ellis, W. (1938).  A source book of Gestalt psychology  (pp. 71-88). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
• Wertheimer, M. (1959). Productive Thinking (Enlarged Ed.). New York:Harper & Row.

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12.1.2: Restructuring – The Gestalt Approach

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One dominant approach to Problem Solving originated from Gestalt psychologists in the 1920s. Their understanding of problem solving emphasises behaviour in situations requiring relatively novel means of attaining goals and suggests that problem solving involves a process called restructuring. Since this indicates a perceptual approach, two main questions have to be considered:

• How is a problem represented in a person's mind?
• How does solving this problem involve a reorganisation or restructuring of this representation?

This is what we are going to do in the following part of this section.

How is a problem represented in the mind?

In current research internal and external representations are distinguished: The first kind is regarded as the knowledge and structure of memory , while the latter type is defined as the knowledge and structure of the environment, such like physical objects or symbols whose information can be picked up and processed by the perceptual system autonomously. On the contrary the information in internal representations has to be retrieved by cognitive processes.

Generally speaking, problem representations are models of the situation as experienced by the agent. Representing a problem means to analyse it and split it into separate components:

• objects, predicates
• state space
• selection criteria

Therefore the efficiency of Problem Solving depends on the underlying representations in a person’s mind, which usually also involves personal aspects. Analysing the problem domain according to different dimensions, i.e., changing from one representation to another, results in arriving at a new understanding of a problem. This is basically what is described as restructuring. The following example illustrates this:

The key in this story is that the older boy restructured the problem and found out that he used an attitude towards the younger which made it difficult to keep him playing. With the new type of game the problem is solved: the older is not bored, the younger not frustrated.

Possibly, new representations can make a problem more difficult or much easier to solve. To the latter case insight – the sudden realisation of a problem’s solution – seems to be related.

There are two very different ways of approaching a goal-oriented situation . In one case an organism readily reproduces the response to the given problem from past experience. This is called reproductive thinking .

The second way requires something new and different to achieve the goal, prior learning is of little help here. Such productive thinking is (sometimes) argued to involve insight . Gestalt psychologists even state that insight problems are a separate category of problems in their own right.

Tasks that might involve insight usually have certain features – they require something new and non-obvious to be done and in most cases they are difficult enough to predict that the initial solution attempt will be unsuccessful. When you solve a problem of this kind you often have a so called "AHA-experience" – the solution pops up all of a sudden. At one time you do not have any ideas of the answer to the problem, you do not even feel to make any progress trying out different ideas, but in the next second the problem is solved.

For all those readers who would like to experience such an effect, here is an example for an Insight Problem: Knut is given four pieces of a chain; each made up of three links. The task is to link it all up to a closed loop and he has only 15 cents. To open a link costs 2, to close a link costs 3 cents. What should Knut do?

If you want to know the correct solution, click to enlarge the image.

To show that solving insight problems involves restructuring , psychologists created a number of problems that were more difficult to solve for participants provided with previous experiences, since it was harder for them to change the representation of the given situation (see Fixation ). Sometimes given hints may lead to the insight required to solve the problem. And this is also true for involuntarily given ones. For instance it might help you to solve a memory game if someone accidentally drops a card on the floor and you look at the other side. Although such help is not obviously a hint, the effect does not differ from that of intended help.

For non-insight problems the opposite is the case. Solving arithmetical problems, for instance, requires schemas , through which one can get to the solution step by step.

Sometimes, previous experience or familiarity can even make problem solving more difficult. This is the case whenever habitual directions get in the way of finding new directions – an effect called fixation .

Functional fixedness

Functional fixedness concerns the solution of object-use problems . The basic idea is that when the usual way of using an object is emphasised, it will be far more difficult for a person to use that object in a novel manner. An example for this effect is the candle problem : Imagine you are given a box of matches, some candles and tacks. On the wall of the room there is a cork-board. Your task is to fix the candle to the cork-board in such a way that no wax will drop on the floor when the candle is lit. – Got an idea?

A further example is the two-string problem : Knut is left in a room with a chair and a pair of pliers given the task to bind two strings together that are hanging from the ceiling. The problem he faces is that he can never reach both strings at a time because they are just too far away from each other. What can Knut do?

Mental fixedness

Functional fixedness as involved in the examples above illustrates a mental set – a person’s tendency to respond to a given task in a manner based on past experience. Because Knut maps an object to a particular function he has difficulties to vary the way of use (pliers as pendulum's weight).

One approach to studying fixation was to study wrong-answer verbal insight problems . It was shown that people tend to give rather an incorrect answer when failing to solve a problem than to give no answer at all.

These wrong solutions are due to an inaccurate interpretation , hence representation , of the problem. This can happen because of sloppiness (a quick shallow reading of the problem and/or weak monitoring of their efforts made to come to a solution). In this case error feedback should help people to reconsider the problem features, note the inadequacy of their first answer, and find the correct solution. If, however, people are truly fixated on their incorrect representation, being told the answer is wrong does not help. In a study made by P.I. Dallop and R.L. Dominowski in 1992 these two possibilities were contrasted. In approximately one third of the cases error feedback led to right answers, so only approximately one third of the wrong answers were due to inadequate monitoring . [1]

Another approach is the study of examples with and without a preceding analogous task. In cases such like the water-jug task analogous thinking indeed leads to a correct solution, but to take a different way might make the case much simpler:

In fact participants faced with the 100 litre task first choose a complicate way in order to solve the second one. Others on the contrary who did not know about that complex task solved the 18 litre case by just adding three litres to 15.

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Gestalt research on problem-solving and today’s Gestalt

2022, psyarxiv

This article will focus on two pioneering scientific works in problem-solving, or per Gestalt theory, “productive thinking”. One of them is Köhler’s research on goal-directed tool use and overcoming obstacles in chimpanzees, the other is Duncker’s studies on problem-solving using a “think aloud” technique. In both Köhler’s and Duncker’s work, productive thinking is linked to a restructuring behavior, such as tearing off a thin, long branch from a tree to serve as a stick or removing various objects in a matchbox to transform it from a container to a base on which to mount a candle. In the final section, I will look at how today’s research trends might and should connect to Gestalt theory. In conclusion, just as in memory, the main tenets of Gestalt theory of figure-ground segregation and grouping play a critical role also in thinking. Thus, Gestalt theory seems to be able to come up with a common way of understanding perception, memory, as well as thinking. To my knowledge there is no other single theory within cognitive psychology that has such broad an explanatory power. This in itself is one more reason why Gestalt theory deserves crucial attention across all of cognition, even all of psychology and possibly even beyond.

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The aim of this paper is to sketch the major aspects of Gestaltpsychologie: Wertheimer's factors, global v. local factors, isomorphism, auto-organisation, Prägnanz as singularity and as a tendency towards stability. While Gestaltpsychologie as a school no longer exists, its lesson is yet seminal and can inspire many developments of contemporary cognitive psychology. Few examples are here illustrated: geometric psychology, non linear systems (mainly synergetics), and computational gestalts. 1. The Characteristics of Gestaltpsychologie It is almost trivial saying that Gestalt psychology has been the most consistent and successful psychological school developed in the past century in Europe as a reaction against elementism and associationism, typical of the beginning of scientific psychology in the last decades of XIX century. As a school, after the death of its principal exponents (Wertheimer, Köhler, Koffka) the Gestalt psychology, doesn't exist anymore. Nevertheless, the les...

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Gestalt Theory of Learning (Kohler)

Gestalt Theory of Learning: the Gestalt Theory of Learning is a psychological theory, developed by Wolfgang Kohler that describes how people learn. Next to what it is, this article alo highlights examples of Gestalt theory of learning, how to use and principles the disadvantages, views of this theory and a short summary. After reading, you will understand the basics of the Gestalt Theory of Learning theory. Enjoy reading!

What is Gestalt Theory of Learning?

The Gestalt Theory of Learning is an educational philosophy based on the tenets and ideas of gestalt psychology .

Gestalt literally means “ whole ” or “ unified .”

The theory states that the whole of a set of stimuli, such as verbal and nonverbal communication , has a greater influence on behavior than individual parts; individuals can gain more from studying elements of a subject in relationship to one another rather than simply memorizing them by themselves.

In this way, new information is taught alongside previously learned material so that no piece of information exists alone but as part of a unified lesson plan.

In particular, the Gestalt theory focuses on how humans learn, which is based upon our previous experiences with similar objects or from other senses such as sound and smell.

This means that when you see an object on the table, your brain will fill in all of its features based on your previous experience with similar objects or from other senses. Gestalt theory argues that we don’t need to be taught these associations because we already know them naturally: it’s our automatic response to a stimulus.

It was first proposed by German psychologist Wolfgang Kohler in 1912 and has been expanded upon by many psychologists since then, including Max Wertheimer (1923), Kurt Koffka (1935), and many others.

Examples of Gestalt theory of learning

If you were asked to describe a person who you met before, you might start off describing the hair color, clothes, height, etc.

But after seeing the face, you’d probably notice she looked familiar too. That’s because you’ve associated certain facial characteristics with someone else whom you knew well.

When you’re trying to remember where you put down your keys, you may think back over the last few minutes and recall where you left them. But if you try to do this while looking at a picture of those same keys, you’ll find yourself unable to identify them.

The Gestalt theory of learning says that there is a connection between the form of the teacher’s voice and the students’ understanding of the content being presented. This is called “the principle of similarity” . For example, if the teacher speaks slowly and clearly, his/her speech pattern becomes similar to the student’s internal model for speaking.

A child at school sees a form on the board with the word ‘kangaroo’ next to it. The child thinks of Australia, smells eucalyptus, and hears the locals speaking in their native tongue, creating a gestalt that they are learning about kangaroos.

The Gestalt Theory in philosophy

The Gestalt Theory is based on the idea that learning is a result of observing and comprehending stimuli in relation to one another, not just individually.

The theory emphasizes the importance of an individual’s awareness of their environment and how it integrates with their previous knowledge and experience.

The Gestalt Theory of Learning is known as a holistic philosophy theory because it points out that knowledge can be absorbed through the common link between all of our senses, not just through words or individual experiences.

While this school of thought was initially devised as a theory of learning, it has since been adopted into other educational philosophies, including critical pedagogy and project-based learning.

Gestalt Theory of Learning in Education

The Gestalt Theory of Learning in education refers to the utilization of our senses as well as past experiences to comprehend stimuli. It shows how humans’ response to innate associations can contribute towards knowledge acquisition. In this context, the central question is: what shapes knowledge?

The theory underlines this idea that everything we encounter shapes who we are, including teaching methods, school culture, and classroom environment.

The idea extends to how we learn throughout our lifetime (i.e. learning outside of the classroom) and how it shapes our perspectives on knowledge, information, and data.

There is no set way to teach according to the Gestalt Theory of Learning. Instead, the approach used is completely situational based on what works for each individual student.

The method is focused primarily on how humans’ process knowledge rather than simply focusing on content or information.

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How to use and principles

The best way to use the Gestalt Theory of Learning in practice is to create a situation where students are given the opportunity to observe many stimuli in relation to one another.

In this case, project-based learning would be an exemplary teaching method because the children are then able to learn through their own experience rather than observation or by being told what they need to know.

This approach allows them to see the different parts of a topic and how they relate to each other within a whole picture, which is crucial for applying knowledge outside of school.

Learning cannot happen as fast as humans would like it to be – we still require guidance from our teachers throughout the duration of our education (i.e. lectures).

However, Gestalt theory shows us that humans can acquire knowledge much faster when given opportunities such as those provided by project-based learning.

Disadvantages

• It does not provide any specific guidelines regarding how to implement the theory.
• Some people believe that the theory is too vague and difficult to understand.
• Many educators do not agree with the theory’s emphasis on experiential learning.
• The theory has been criticized for promoting passive learning.
• The theory focuses more on human behavior than on cognitive processes.
• The theory emphasizes the importance of context but fails to explain why certain contexts work better than others.
• The theory assumes that all learners will respond similarly to similar situations.
• The theory ignores cultural differences between individuals.

Views on Gestalt theory of learning

The Gestalt Theory of Learning is described by theorists as being holistic, emergent or constructive, and active. Learning does not happen in a linear fashion from A to B but through a process called emergence where consequences build upon consequences, producing a unique experience for each individual.

For example, if one person decided to stay indoors all day they’re going to have a different experience than someone who went outside that same day because they’ll encounter different stimuli during the two days.

Another important aspect of this theory is that everything is connected with everything else, so if something changes, it will affect how other things change around it. This can be seen through the Gestalt Theory of Perception, which says that things are perceived as wholes before all the parts are seen.

Other aspect of gestalt learning is that it happens in an active way, rather than passively observing something.

The individual does not simply sit there and take in information, but they try to focus on what is important for themselves – this may consist of looking away or really focusing on specific aspects related to their own goals.

This makes sense because if you’re trying to learn about some topic, you can’t be expected to know everything, so you’d need to choose what’s most important for you first.

The best way to improve your learning experience would be through project-based learning because then students will have more opportunities to feel like they’re learning as a whole.

It’s important to note that this theory does not discredit the importance of lecturing from teachers, because it still serves as a valuable method to raise student awareness about specific topics and provide them with a general understanding of what is being taught beforehand.

Gestalt theory can be applied to teaching methods in general. Its emphasis on experiential learning makes this approach more effective than any other instructional technique. Each student’s experience with a certain object will be different based upon their role.

In addition, when working within a group setting, students must work together to achieve common objectives.

These factors make projects ideal for developing skills such as teamwork, leadership , communication, problem-solving, critical thinking , creativity , self-awareness, etc., while also providing ample opportunity for hands-on practice.

The main advantage of the Gestalt theory is its ability to help individuals understand concepts better. By understanding concepts, you will gain insight into your surroundings and therefore become aware of things around you. You will notice patterns and relationships that exist among objects and events.

It is your turn

What do you think? Have you used this method of learning with your students or people around you? Do you think this method is still important for students in their academic life? Do you have any suggestions or some comments that you want to share with us?

Share your experience and knowledge in the comments box below.

More information

• Ikehara, H. T. (1999). Implications of gestalt theory and practice for the learning organisation . The Learning Organization.
• Spence, K. W., & Lippitt, R. (1946). An experimental test of the sign-gestalt theory of trial and error learning . Journal of Experimental Psychology, 36(6), 491.
• Hilgard, E. R., & Bower, G. H. (1966). Theories of learning .
• Chang, D., Dooley, L., & Tuovinen, J. E. (2002). Gestalt theory in visual screen design—A new look at an old subject .
• Examlabs : an information sharing platform.

How to cite this article: Ospina Avendaño, D.(2022). Gestalt Theory of Learning (Kohler) . Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/psychology/gestalt-theory-of-learning/

Original publication date: 01/26/2022 | Last update: 01/10/2024

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Daniela Avendaño

Daniela Avendaño is a content producer and translator at toolshero. She obtained a Bachelor in Communications & Journalism, and with her theoretical and practical knowledge she supports the toolshero production team with interesting articles on management, personal & professional development, marketing and more. She is driven by sharing knowledge and stimulating others to develop.

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