Ch. 14 Gestalt Psychology

Von Ehrenfels

On Gestalt Psychology

Wertheimer

Founder of Gestalt psych

phi phenomenon

Experimental studies in the perception of motion

Phi phenomenon

perception of apparent movement when the elements of experiences are acutally stationary

Sherif

Robber’s Cave experiment

Koffka

Perception: An intro to Gestalt-theorie

Koheler

researched learning - nature of learning of chimps in Tenerife

insight learning - ah ha experience

Field theory (Lewing)

• Brain contains structural fields of electrochemical forces

  • Upon entering a field, sensory data modify the structure of the field and are modified by the field

  • Our experience results from interaction of sensory data and force fields in brain

• Cog experience results from fields of brain actively transforming sensory data and giving that data characteristics is otherwise wouldn’t possess

• The whole (electrochemical force field in the brain) exists prior to the parts (individual sensations)

• The whole gives meaning and identity to the parts

Psychophysical isomorphism

• Force fields in brain transform incoming sensory data and transformed data is what we experience constantly

• Brain dynamic configuration of forces that transforms sensory info

• Notion of isomorphism necessitated opposition to the constancy hypothesis - 1 to 1 correspondence bw environmental stimuli and sensations

law of pragnanz

Psychological organization will always be as good as conditions allow bc fields of brain activity will always distribute themselves in the simplest way possible under prevailing conditions Law asserts that all cognitive experiences will tend to be as organized, symmetrical, simple, and regular as they can be, given the pattern of brain activity at any given moment “As good as conditions allow” “Good form” rough translation - used in aesthetics We tend to remember something by simplifying it and giving it a better form

Perceptual constancy

• The way we respond to objects as if they’re the same, even though the actual stimulation our senses receive may vary greatly

• This phenomenon not a function of sensation plus learning, but is a function of ongoing brain activity and the fields’ activity

Figure-ground

• Perceptual field divided into figure (clear, unified, and object of attention) and ground (diffuse and not attended to)

continuity

• Stimuli that have continuity w one another (intrinsic togetherness; seem to go together) will be experienced as a perceptual unit to make a whole

proximity

• Stimuli that are close together tend to be grouped together as a perceptual unit

Inclusiveness

• When there’s more than 1 figure, we’re most likely to see the figure that contains the greatest number of stimuli

Similarity

• Objects that are similar in some way tend to form perceptual units

Closure

• Our mind fills in the blanks of an image 

subjective/objective reality

• Koffka distinguished bw the geographical environment (physical) and behavioral environment (subjective interpretation)

• Our own subjective reality governs our actions more than the physical environment

insight learning

• If a problem presented to an organism along w whatever is necessary to solve the problem, insight learning will typically occur

• 4 characteristics

  • Transition from no solution to solution is sudden and complete

  • Performance based on the insightful solution usually smooth and free of errors

  • Solution gained by insight retained for a considerable length of time

  • Principle gained by insight easily applied to other problems