mind or consciousness; doesnt like tryin gto break down the big picture
Gestalt (defintion)
pattern, form organization, big picture, whole"the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"whole intact behavior of intact mental experience
Molecular Approach
reduce consciousness or behavior to its basica elements... not consistent with gestalt
Molar Approach
focus on the whole, intact, mental or behavioral events (phenomenological approach)
Antecendents of Gestalt Psych
1. Kant2. Christian Zvon Ellentels- form quality: form more than sum of its parts3. William James-- stream of consciouness4. Developments of Physics
Wertheimer (foundings of Gestalt)
he questions apparent in motion (picture books, movies)
Phi Phenomenon (wertheimer)
apparent motion with lights
Experimental studies of the perception of motion-- 1912
Wertheimer-- article, formal founding of gestalt
Field Theory
Erosion in a canyon caused by a rivercanyon-- brainwater-- sensory info--brain directs way of water--sometimes so much water erodes the canyon and changes it
Explanation of learning/problem solving
1. cognitive trial and error learning2. insight learning3. applies to all mammals on a continuum
Insightful learning
Kohler- ah ha! experience
Psychophyscial Isomorphism
mind/body problemiso-similar; morpho-shape
Law of Pragnance
(essence, gist)What we percieve may always be clear and simple b/c the brain is well organized
Perceptual Gestalten
Picture Demos...
Principle of Closure
complete the incomplete
Principle of Proximity (contiguity)
tendency to perceptually group together stimuli in close proximity
Perceptual Constancy
tendency to respond to objects as being the same even when experiencing them under a wide variety of circumstances (generalization?)
Why is Perceptual gestalten important? (x3)
innate organizing principals in brain- challenges behaviorism, empiricism, elementism.. supports rationalismprovides data that whole is greater than its partsall demonstrate law of pragnance
