Most perceive psychology as a complex of phenomena from life. Although, on the other hand, it is a system of proven knowledge, it solves various practical and purely scientific problems. In the 16th century, for the first time, “psychology” was mentioned, as a field that deals with the study of phenomena from the mental and psychic aspects. In the 17-19th centuries, the field of research has grown considerably and included the processes of the unconscious level. And already from the 19th century, psychology is the experimental sphere of scientific knowledge.
Gestalt psychology – what is it?
Gestalt psychology is a direction in psychology that arose during the crisis period in science (1920). Founder – M. Wertheimer, work on the idea was continued by K. Levin, V. Keller and K. Koffka. Gestalt psychology originated in Germany and became a kind of objection to the program developed by Wundt.
The visual consciousness of a person was studied. Relying on the obtained results, they deduced a new unit of “gestalt” (gestalt in psychology is a unitary form). Its essence is that people tend to understand the surrounding world as a coherent whole structure, and not every element individually.
Supporters of Gestalt psychology denied the effectiveness of structural psychology (consciousness is divided into blocks) and everything that it focuses on. They have even formulated a kind of law, which states that “the whole, in any case, is greater than the totality of its constituent elements”.
According to Wikipedia, initially, the subject of Gestalt psychology was a phenomenal field. In the future, the subject matter has seriously expanded: questions have been raised about the problems of mental development, the spread of the needs of individuals, memory and extraordinary thinking.
The emergence and development of the Gestalt psychology school
Gestalt psychology originated after carrying out one very important experiment by Max Wertheimer called “fi-phenomenon.” The essence of the study: using a tachistoscope and a strobe, the scientist observed two straight lines (stimulating substances) of the participants, transferring them to different speeds. So, he found out that:
- lines are perceived in series if the gap is large;
- lines are recognized simultaneously if the gap is minimal;
- Motion awareness occurs (the test person watched the movement of the line in a certain direction, and not after two together or one after another);
- “fi-phenomenon”, if the interval is optimal (only pure displacement is realized, the subject realizes that there is movement, but without changing the position of the line itself).
He detailed the results of the experiment in his work in 1912. This and his other works have interested many famous scientists of the time. Further, Gestalt psychology acquired many representatives, the most important of which was K. Koffka.
The results of his own research are shown in the work “Perception: Introduction to Gestalt Theory.” In 1921, the book was published “Fundamentals of Mental Development”, which tells about the development of children’s psychology. The Book enjoyed immense popularity both in Germany and abroad.
for free
Koffki studies on perceptions in children have revealed a number of interesting patterns. One of them: in fact, initially the child owns a set of partial and not very logical images of the entire external world. Then the scientist decided that the perception is strongly influenced by the ratio of the figure and the background on which the object is located. He then formulated the law of transduction in psychology. In the Gestalt school, this is one of the theories of perception, summarizing which it turns out that children are not aware of the colours themselves, but their combinations.
Gestalt what is it in psychology: ideas, laws and principles
Consciousness is what the Gestalt psychologist works with as a representative of the school. In fact, it is a living entity in which all the elements are interacting with each other. A good analogue: the human body as a whole consists of a multitude of systems that work smoothly and regularly for many years. Gestalt psychology is based on the following basic concepts:
- What is Gestalt? A measure of consciousness, a kind of figurative configuration.
- Gestalt psychology uses consciousness as an object of investigation. His study is based on the use of the principle of integrity.
- Observation and description – the main research methods. Perception does not come from sensations, they are unreal. It comes from hearing, as from the reflection of changes in air pressure.
- Visual perception in the first place. This is the leading process in psychology, determining the degree of development of the psyche.
- Thinking is the process of resolving problems using structured fields. Through insight in the present time.
Basic laws of perception in Gestalt psychology:
- Transposition. The psychic responds to a complex of stimuli, and not to each individual.
- Constancy. All processes tend to be unchanged.
- Closeness. The propensity to connect neighbouring elements into one whole.
- The figure and the background in Gestalt psychology occupy one of the most important places. Each figure is an isolated whole, the background is something dynamic behind the figure.
- The law of Pragnanz. The inclination to react to the most constant and simple figure among all possible.
- Closure. If a person sees something incomprehensible, then the brain tries to remake the information into something that we are familiar with.
Gestalt psychology is a direction in psychology, in which all laws of perception are in contact with each other, using certain principles:
- closeness;
- insularity;
- common area;
- likeness;
- contiguity;
- Integrity.
Gestalt theory of perception is guided by 3 constants:
- The size. He remains unchanged, regardless of the change in his position on the ocular retina.
- The form. It always remains constant.
- Brightness. The brightness of the object is unchanged, even with the change in lighting conditions.
Gestalt Therapy
This is one of the types of psychotherapy, founded by F. Perls in the 50’s of last century. The subject of Gestalt therapy is the contact and boundaries in which the person is located and all that surrounds him. Contact – solvating the needs of the individual with the capabilities of the environment. It turns out that you can meet a specific need only by coming into contact with the outside world. (You can quench your thirst if you drink water).
The basic technique of such therapy is a game based on dialogue within oneself. The conversation is conducted with one or more parts of one’s own personality. In principle, all the therapy is aimed at completing some previously left case – Gestalt.
The circle of the correct gestalt has this form:
- There is a need appeared.
- The ways of its satisfaction are being sought.
- There is a satisfaction takes place.
- Contact with the outside world ends.
There are always a number of factors that hinder the ideal process. If the cycle is incomplete, then a person throughout his life feels exhausted and cannot open up to new desires. An incomplete gestalt can cause a serious malfunction in the protective properties of the human psyche.
Gestalt psychology and therapy is an opportunity to help “yourself” and find the root causes of internal inconsistencies, briefly. There are a number of exercises aimed at accepting oneself and what lies beyond the real, simultaneously. They should help begin to think about themselves and reveal themselves to the world. Other exciting interactive materials developed by leading psychologists can be found on BrainApps. Tests and courses on self-development, over 90 exciting games will allow even more quickly to deal with internal experiences and put everything in its place.
Gestalt pictures
Gestalt drawings are called pictures of the inverse (illusions). Looking at them you need to answer what you see and what emotions the image causes. Such materials are not recommended for viewing to preschool children, as they can lead to various mental disorders. Below are the well-known “deceptions”. And what did you see there?
