Gestalt Principles of Visual Perception: Key Concepts and Examples

Gestalt Imagery

The idea that the whole is different from the sum of its parts.

Figure-ground relationship

We tend to segment our visual world into figure and ground. Figure is the object or person that is the focus of the visual field; the ground is the background.

Proximity

Asserts that things that are close to one another tend to be grouped together.

Similarity

Things that are alike tend to be grouped together.

Law of Continuity or Good Continuation

Suggests that we are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines.

Principle of closure

We organize our perceptions into complete objects rather than as a series of parts.