Gestalt Psychology

What is Gestalt Psychology?

The first major post-Wundt school in Germany that rebelled against elementism and structuralism, emphasizing holistic perception.

What does the term 'Gestalt' translate to?

It translates roughly into 'configuration' or 'form,' implying the 'totality' of perception.

Who were the founders of Gestalt Psychology?

Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka.

What philosophical roots influenced Gestalt Psychology?

Immanuel Kant's rationalism and Ernst Mach's notion that some perceptions are independent of sensory elements.

What is the basic principle of Gestalt Psychology regarding perception?

Perception is a whole, and holistic perception shapes vision and other senses.

What famous quote by Wolfgang Köhler summarizes Gestalt Psychology?

'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.'

What was Max Wertheimer's contribution to Gestalt Psychology?

He conducted experiments on the phi phenomenon and emphasized the holistic nature of perception.

What is the phi phenomenon?

An apparent movement caused by alternating light positions, perceived as movement despite the lights being stationary.

What did Wertheimer's experiments on the phi phenomenon demonstrate?

The quality of the whole is different from the sum of its parts.

What was the significance of Wertheimer's paper titled 'Experimental Studies on the Perception of Movement'?

It published his findings on the phi phenomenon and contributed to the launch of the Gestalt movement.

Where did Max Wertheimer receive his PhD?

University of Würzburg in 1904.

What challenges did Wertheimer face after emigrating to the U.S.?

He struggled with the transition to a new environment and had difficulty learning English.

What was Kurt Koffka's academic background?

He received his doctorate from the University of Berlin under Carl Stumpf.

What role did Koffka play in introducing Gestalt Psychology to America?

He published a study of perception in 1922 that introduced Gestalt concepts to many American academics.

What was the primary focus of Gestalt Psychology?

It focused on perception and how individuals experience things as meaningful configurations.

How did Gestalt Psychology oppose Behaviorism?

It prized cognition and emphasized the importance of the 'whole' in perception.

What was the educational background of Max Wertheimer?

He initially studied law before developing an interest in psychology.

What year did Kurt Koffka emigrate to the U.S.?

1924

What was the impact of the phi phenomenon on the understanding of perception?

It illustrated that perception of movement is influenced by the eye's response to successive stimuli.

What was the environment like for Max Wertheimer during his upbringing?

He was born into an affluent family with a highly intellectual home environment.

What did the Gestaltists believe about human perception?

They believed people experience things in meaningful intact configurations rather than isolated pieces.

What was the significance of the New School for Social Research for Wertheimer?

It was where he taught after emigrating to the U.S. and continued his work in Gestalt Psychology.

What was Koffka's main contribution to the field of psychology?

He helped solidify Gestalt Psychology's focus on perception through his research and publications.

What book did Koffka write and when was it published?

Principles of Gestalt Psychology, published in 1935.

What is the first premise of Koffka's three-stage proposition in Gestalt theory?

Perceiving sensory experiences as a combination of individual parts does not align with actual perception; the whole is more meaningful than the sum of its parts.

What does Koffka's second premise state about stimuli and sensation?

It is a mistake to correlate a stimulus with sensation; stimuli should be correlated to the factual content of the perceptive field.

What does Koffka's third premise suggest about the relationship between the mind and physical needs?

The relationship between the mind and physical needs must be reconsidered.

Who was Wolfgang Köhler and where was he born?

Köhler was a psychologist born in Reval (now Tallinn) in the Russian Empire.

What significant academic achievement did Köhler complete and under whom?

He completed his PhD at the University of Berlin under Carl Stumpf.

What was Köhler's major contribution to psychology through his studies of apes?

He concluded that apes solved problems through insight rather than trial-and-error.

What is the title of Köhler's published work on his studies of apes?

The Mentality of Apes (1917).

What are the four characteristics of insightful learning according to Köhler?

1) Sudden and complete transition from pre-solution to solution. 2) Performance based on insight is usually error-free. 3) Solutions gained by insight are retained for a long time. 4) Principles gained by insight can be easily applied to other problems.

What is transposition in the context of Köhler's insights?

Transposition refers to the ability to apply a principle gained by insight to other problems.

Who was Kurt Lewin and where did he complete his PhD?

Kurt Lewin was a psychologist who completed his PhD at the University of Berlin.

What did Lewin expand the principles of Gestalt into?

Motivation, personality, and group dynamics.

What theory did Kurt Lewin develop that examines interactions between individuals and their environment?

Field theory.

What does Lewin's concept of 'life space' encompass?

All influences acting on a person at a given time, including internal events, external events, and recollections of prior experiences.

How is 'life space' described in terms of its nature?

It is dynamic, changing with time and experience.

What psychological facts are included in an individual's 'life space'?

Motives, values, needs, moods, goals, anxieties, and ideals.

What happens to the life space when a need arises?

It is articulated with facts relevant to the satisfaction of that need.

Give an example of how 'life space' might be articulated in a specific context.

A student planning to become a doctor would articulate their life space with facts relevant to that goal.

What are the three types of conflict studied by Kurt Lewin?

1) Approach-Approach Conflict: Attraction to two goals. 2) Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Repulsion by two unattractive goals. 3) Approach-Avoidance Conflict: Desire for one option with negative consequences.

What is the Zeigarnik Effect?

The phenomenon where people remember details of uncompleted tasks better than completed tasks.

Who was Bluma Zeigarnik and what was her contribution to psychology?

Bluma Zeigarnik was a psychologist known for the Zeigarnik Effect, which suggests that unfinished tasks create a tension that helps retain their details in memory.

What was the main finding of Bluma Zeigarnik's study in a Berlin café?

Waiters could recall bills for uncompleted orders but struggled to do so once the bills were provided.

What is cognitive dissonance according to Leon Festinger?

A psychologically uncomfortable state that occurs when a person holds contradictory beliefs or values, or acts against them.

What was the central study conducted by Leon Festinger in 'When Prophecy Fails'?

A study of a UFO cult led by Dorothy Martin, which predicted a geologic cataclysm that would end the world, examining why members remained after the prophecies failed.

What five conditions must be present for someone to become a more fervent believer after a disconfirmation according to Festinger?

1) Deep conviction and relevance to action. 2) Commitment to the belief through significant actions. 3) Specificity and real-world concern of the belief. 4) Recognition of undeniable disconfirmatory evidence. 5) Social support from a group of believers.

What was the background of Leon Festinger?

Born in Brooklyn to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, he earned his BS at City College of New York and his MA and PhD at the University of Iowa under Kurt Lewin.

What role did social support play in maintaining beliefs according to Festinger?

Social support from a group of convinced individuals helps maintain beliefs in the face of disconfirming evidence.

What is an example of an Approach-Approach Conflict?

Choosing between two concerts presented on the same evening.

What is an example of an Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict?

Choosing between staying in a job that one hates or losing income.

What is an example of an Approach-Avoidance Conflict?

Wanting to go to Hawaii but being reluctant due to the cost.

What did Festinger conclude about the UFO cult members after their prophecies failed?

They experienced cognitive dissonance and relieved discomfort by accepting new explanations from their leader.

What was the significance of the Zeigarnik Effect in psychological research?

It highlighted the cognitive processes involved in memory and task completion.

What did Bluma Zeigarnik study during World War II?

She worked with Alexander Luria in assessing brain-injured soldiers.

What was one of Festinger's key contributions to psychology?

His studies on cognitive dissonance and the conditions under which beliefs are maintained.

How did Zeigarnik's findings challenge conventional views on memory?

They suggested that unfinished tasks create a mental tension that aids in memory retention.

What was the educational path of Leon Festinger?

He earned his BS at City College of New York and his MA and PhD at the University of Iowa.

What did Festinger mean by 'undeniable disconfirmatory evidence'?

Evidence that clearly contradicts a held belief and is recognized by the individual.

What role did commitment play in maintaining beliefs according to Festinger?

A strong commitment to a belief, often through significant actions, makes it harder to abandon that belief after disconfirmation.

What was the outcome for the UFO cult members after their prophecies did not come true?

They remained with the cult, often rationalizing their continued belief despite the failure of the prophecies.

What is the relationship between cognitive dissonance and belief maintenance?

Cognitive dissonance can lead individuals to rationalize or reinforce their beliefs to alleviate psychological discomfort.

What was the historical context of Bluma Zeigarnik's life?

She was of Lithuanian Jewish background, earned her PhD in Berlin, and lived in Russia during significant historical events.