History Behind the Theory
Gestalt Theory is usually associated with Austro-Hungarian psychologist Max Wertheimer who started this movement in 1912 while investigating the phi-phenomenon (Hamlyn, 2017). While observing the flashing lights at a railroad crossing, Wertheimer noticed that what he saw as “a single light moving around the marquee” was actually a set of stationary bulbs constantly turning on and off (Bradley, 2017, para. 2). This observation made him think about how people actually see and, more importantly, perceive certain objects of reality. For example, when we watch a video, we see the whole picture and not the tiny flashing bulbs (pixels) that compose it. This idea stands behind the Gestalt concept.
Gestalt Theory
Gestalt is a German word that “encompasses several concepts, including wholeness, configuration, and pattern” (Corcoran & Roberts, 2015, p. 42). The key idea behind the theory is perfectly explained in a quote by Kurt Koffka who is also one of the Gestalt Theory founders. The quote says: “The whole is other than the sum of the parts” (Bradley, 2017, para. 6). It means that if perceived individually, the parts of the whole have different characteristics in relation to the whole. To understand the idea, one can imagine a house. Its parts can include bricks, windows, roof, doors, and so on. When we look at the house, we are not aware of its parts; we just see it as an overall object, which is the house.
Gestalt Principles
The Figure-Ground principle deals with the relationship between the object (a figure) and its surrounding (ground). The idea is that people subconsciously separate a figure from its background basing on the size, color, contrast and so on. The aim is to determine which is a figure, and which is a background, accordingly (Adorama Learning Center, 2017).
A closure is a tendency to close and finish a figure. The idea is to see the finished “whole.” It means if the figures are presented as unfinished objects, our mind will try to add some details to create the whole object.
Continuance, or continuation, principle implies that objects arranged in one line tend to be perceived more related, rather than those that are not arranged in a line even if they are of the same color or shape.
Proximity is the principle assuming that closely located objects seem more related than those that are set apart. If these objects are of the same color, size, or shape, but are divided into two or three groups, they will be perceived as two or three wholes accordingly (Bradley, 2017).
The similarity is based on the idea that objects sharing similar features (color, size, shape, and so on) will be perceived related even if they are not located side by side. For example, white flowers will be perceived more related if set in water along with red, yellow and purple flowers.
Common fate is the principle based on common direction or destination. No matter what features the elements share, they will be treated as “having common fate” if moving in the same direction (Bradley, 2017, para. 42).
References
Adorama Learning Center (2017).6 principles of Gestalt psychology that can improve your photography. Web.
Bradley, S. (2017). Design principles: Visual perception and the principles of Gestalt. Web.
Corcoran, K., & Roberts, A.R. (Eds). (2015). Social workers’ desk reference (3d ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Hamlyn, D. W. (2017). The psychology of perception: A philosophical examination of Gestalt theory and derivative theories of perception (Vol. 13). New York, NY: Routledge.