gestalt psychology

optical illusion

series of still images giving impression of movement phi phenomena

field theory

behaviour should be examined in relation to interactions between individuals and the environment

figure/ground segregation: auditory domain

we focus on sound of a person speaking (figure), while tuning out other noise (ground)

gestalt laws of organisation

proximity, similarity, closure, good continuation

law of proximity

objects or shapes close to one another appear to form groups

law of similarity

when objects look similar to one another, ofte perceived as group or pattern

law of closure

when shapes are not closed, we tend to fill in missing elements to complete the image

law of good continuation

vision moves through one object and continues to another

barriers of problem solving

mental set, “paradox of success”, functional fixity