Gestalt and His Theory of Psychology - Essay Example

Gestalt Theory of Psychology Psychology 17th May 2006 Gestalt Theory of Psychology Gestalt psychology is a theory of mind and brain which suggests that the brain operates in a manner that is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies. The definition of the German word Gestalt is "A physical, biological, psychological, or symbolic configuration or pattern of elements so unified as a whole that its properties cannot be derived from a simple summation of its parts. (Tfd 2006)" An example of Gestalt is a soap bubble, whose spherical shape (its Gestalt) is not described by a inflexible model, or a mathematical formula, but instead forms as a result of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. The Gestalt effect refers our brain's form creating capability, especially with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of an assortment of lines and curves. Gestalt psychology is most developed in perception and cognition but also has great relevance in studying individual behaviour (Henle 2006). But in observing behaviour errors can crop up due to false notions and deductions when drawing conclusions on scientific data. The most distinctive feature of scientific data is the way they are gathered. For example, if psychologists want to investigate a particular issue, say, to determine the circumstances which people act to help those in distress, or the impact of variable reinforcement schedules on the behavior of lab rats, or whether children imitate aggressive behavior they see on TV, psychologists will construct situations to establish conditions from which data can be generated (Schultz p.5). They may conduct lab experiments, observe behavior under controlled real-world conditions, take surveys, or calculate the statistical correlation between two variables. In using these methods scientists can have a measure of control over the situations or events they choose to study. In turn, those events can be reconstructed or replicated by other scientists at other times and places. Thus, data can be verified later by establishing conditions similar to those of the original study and repeating observations. But much of this data is seen narrowly and not viewed as having associations to other factors. For example, in testing whether children get aggressive after watching violence on TV many researchers fail to consider other factors, such as educational level of the child or the parents' upbringing abilities, or whether the child has problems in school, or consider the fact that certain processed foods when consumed by youngsters can result in uncontrollable behavior. Most scientific data do not view the whole, but only the part. Gestalt theory developed by Max Wertheimer resulted from the concrete investigations in psychology, logic, and epistemology. To give a description and make a comparison, we can consider transitioning from the world of everyday events to the world of science. Something as simple as crossing the road, becomes extremely complicated when trying to explain in scientific terms as both psychology of the person and physics are involved. It may not be unusual to assume that while making this transition we shall gain a deeper and more precise understanding of the essentials. The changeover could be seen as progress. But we often find that this turns out not to be the case. Explanations can be difficult to formulate. It is the same in psychology. In this regard also, we find science focused on acquiring a systematic collection of data, yet often excluding through that very activity of acquiring information, precisely that which is most vivid and real in the living phenomena it studies. In Gestalt theory wholes exist, the behavior of which is not determined by their individual elements, but where the part-processes are themselves determined by the intrinsic nature of the whole (Boeree 2000). Gestalt theory endeavors to determine the nature of such wholes and seems particularly fitted for the task of integration (Koffka 1935). Gestalt theory concerns itself with concrete research. It is both an outcome and a device and not just a theory about results but a means toward further discoveries. Nor is it a proposal of one or more problems but an endeavor to discover what is really taking place in science. This problem cannot be solved by listing possibilities for systematization, classification, and arrangement. If it is to be explained, the new method must act as the guide and by the concrete nature of the things themselves which we are studying, and aim to probe that which is really given by nature. Consider another example of Gestalt theory. A mathematician shows a proposition and one begins to "classify" it by saying that this proposition is of such and such type, belongs in this or that historical category, and so on. The mathematician may argue that the formula is not an isolated closed fact that can be dealt by itself alone. It must be seen as a dynamic functional relationship to the whole from which it was derived. Gestalt theory is similar to the concept that holds the mathematical formula and attempts to uncover the functional meaning of its own formula. Gestalt systems consist of some key properties such as emergence, reification, multistability, and invariance (Wikipedia 2006). Emergence is shown by the perception of the Dog Picture, which depicts a Dalmatian dog under the shade of a tree. The dog is not recognized by first identifying its different body parts and then inferring from them the dog. Instead, the dog is noticeable all at once as a whole. (Fig.1 below). Reification is the constructive or generative aspect of perception. Here the image contains more spatial information than the just a series of shapes. For example, a triangle can be discerned yet no such triangle was drawn. Fig. 2. Multistability is the tendency of indistinct perceptual experiences to pop back and forth unstably between two or more alternative versions. The Necker cube and the Vase illusion illustrates this. Fig. 3. Invariance is the property of observation where simple geometric objects are recognized independent of rotation, translation, and scale, as well as several other variations such as elastic deformations, different lighting, and different component features. Fig 4 depicts the same object but in different points of view. Invariance works in web-based forms that use a method to prevent automated bots from exploiting the services. The CAPTCHA test displays a distorted image of letters and numbers, unreadable by computers, and prompts user to correctly type the string. Fig.1 Fig.2. Fig.3. Fig.4 Emergence, reification, multistability, and invariance, are different features of a single unified mechanism. Although the above are merely basic observational examples, the four points lay the groundwork of Gestalt psychology and can be applied to other areas. When we see a relaxed human face, we deduce that the person is in a peaceful, happy frame of mind. When the facial lines and expressions contort and squeeze, we may discern anger or anxiety. The whole situation that is causing the person to feel happy or angry must also be considered. Gestalt methodology of scientific investigation is quite contrary to the traditional scientific methodology developed in the beginning of the 20th century. The traditional methods divided the object of study into a collection of elements that could be analyzed separately with the aim of reducing the complexity of this object. The Gestalt process on the other hand viewed the object as a whole, linking the various relationships of the individual elements. The theoretical principles of Gestalt methodology are the following: Principle of Totality - The conscious experience must be considered wholly, by simultaneously considering all the physical and mental aspects of the individual since the nature of the mind demands that each component be considered as part of a system of dynamic relationships. Principle of psychophysical isomorphism - A relationship exists between conscious experience and cerebral activity. Based on the principles above the following methodological principles are defined: Phenomenon Experimental Analysis - In relation to the Totality Principle any psychological research should take as a starting point phenomena and not be solely focused on sensory qualities. Biotic Experiment - The School of Gestalt recognized a need to conduct real experiments which contrasted with and opposed classic laboratory experiments. This signified experimenting in natural situations, developed in real conditions, in which it would be possible to reproduce, with higher reliability, what would be habitual for a subject. When trying to explain a living experience in a scientific way it becomes necessary to make sense of an assortment of elements, sensational images, feelings, acts of will and laws governing these elements. The procedure to reconstruct from experience leads to difficulties in concrete psychological research and the emergence of problems which defy solution by traditional analytic methods. It was a man named V. Ehrenfels who raised the following problem. Psychology had said that experience is a compound of elements: we hear a melody and then, upon hearing it again, memory enables us to recognize it. But what is it that enables us to recognize the melody when it is played in a new key The sum of the elements is different, yet the melody is the same and a person is often not aware that a switch has been made. When interpreting V. Ehrenfels's theory we can use an example. Suppose a familiar melody of six tones is played. When six new tones are sounded the average person will recognize the melody despite the change. There must be a something more than the sum of six tones, viz. a seventh something, which is the form-quality, the Gestaltqualitt, of the original six. It is this seventh factor or element which enabled you to recognize the melody despite its transposition. Explanations as to how this recognition is formed have been suggested. One maintained that in addition to the six tones there were intervals - relations - between the tones and that these were what remained constant. In other words we are asked to assume not only elements but "relations-between-elements" as additional components of the total complex. But this view failed to account for the phenomenon because in some cases the relations too may be altered without destroying the original melody. Another type of explanation, also designed to reinforce this hypothesis, was that with these six or more tones certain "higher processes" operate upon the given material to "produce" unity. Gestalt theory raised the radical question in this situation. Could it be that when a melody is heard, the memory of it comprises of the sum of the individual tones which constitute the foundation of experience about that melody Is the reverse of this true It may very well be that the individual note triggers the entire experience i.e. the rest of the notes and therefore the melody itself. The experience does not arise from the "relation-between-the-elements", the intervals between the notes, rather on the whole. What occurs in each single part depends upon what the whole is. The flesh and blood of a tone depends upon its role, its function in the entire melody. In other words, the flesh and blood of the things that constitute experience is what role or function they play in the whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasize organization and when referring to sensory fields, they have their own social psychology (Henle 2006). That is, certain units or groups exist which are separated from their environment: certain parts for example the visual field belong together and are segregated from others. Wertheimer investigated the factors that govern perceptual organization: similarity, proximity, good continuation, closure, etc. The law of Pragnanz is the most basic rule of Gestalt and states that we try to experience things in as good a gestalt way as possible (Wikipedia 2006). "Good" can mean several things, such as regular, orderly, simplistic, symmetrical, etc. Other gestalt laws are: Law of Closure - Our minds adds or fills in missing elements to complete a figure. Law of Similarity - Our mind groups similar elements to an entity. The similarity depends on form, color, size and brightness of the elements. Law of Proximity - Our minds group regional or chronological closeness of elements and seen as belonging together. Law of Symmetry - In spite of their distance, symmetrical images are seen as belonging together. Law of Continuity - The mind tends to continue a pattern, even after it stops. Law of Common Fate - Elements with the same moving direction are seen as a unit. Examples of the Gestalt experience include the perception of an incomplete circle as a whole or a pattern of dots as a shape - the mind completes the missing pieces through extrapolation. Studies have shown that simple visual or auditory elements/compositions where the meaning is directly perceived do not offer as much a challenge to the mind as complex ones and hence the latter are preferred over the former. These laws under the gestalt theory, not only apply to images, but to other psychological processes such as thought, memories, and our understanding of time. Another field where Gestalt theory is applied is in the threshold phenomena. It is a well known fact that certain stimulus produces a certain sensations. When two stimuli are adequately different, the sensations produced will also be different. Psychology is filled with inquiries regarding threshold phenomena. It was assumed that higher mental functions, judgments, illusions, attention, etc. influence these phenomena. The question is do specific stimuli always produce the same sensation Experiments show, for example, that when a person sees two colors the sensations produced are determined by the whole-conditions of the entire stimulus situation. It then becomes necessary to investigate these "whole-conditions" and discover what influences they wield upon experience. Gestalt psychology has been interested in value and challenges the view of ethical relativism, the view that what is right and wrong changes with time and place. It has tried to understand values in terms of relations within happenings themselves. The value of an action is seen as depending on its appropriateness to the demands of the given situation. Gestalt psychologists have held that values are not randomly attached to objects or actions, or on the individual's history of rewards and punishments. While different sciences such as astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, demand absolute proof, psychology can be viewed being fitted for the task of integration - considering the whole instead of the parts and using parts in the whole. In psychology the three great realms of our world intersect, the realms which can be called inanimate nature, life, and mind. Gestalt theory cannot be explained with half solutions suggested by a simple division of science and life. Gestalt theory instead, aims to penetrate the problem itself by examining the fundamental assumptions of science. The long standing characteristic of science is that "science" means breaking up complexities into their component elements, isolating them, discovering their laws, then reassembling them, to solve the problem. Wholes are reduced to pieces and piecewise relations between pieces. Gestalt theory derives the properties of the whole by considering the individual pieces' association to it. References Boeree, Dr. C. George (2000). Gestalt Psychology. Retrieved on 13 May 2006 from http://www.ship.edu/cgboeree/gestalt.html Henle, Mary (2006). Gestalt Psychology and Gestalt Therapy. Retrieved 12 May 2006 from http://gestalttheory.net/archive/henle.html Koffka, Kurt (1935). Principle of Gestalt Psychology. Retrieved 10 May 2006 from http://gestalttheory.net/archive/koffka.html Luchins, Abraham S and Luchins, Edith H. (1997) A Sampling Of Gestalt Psychologists' Remarks On Psychoanalysis. Retrieved 7 May 2006 from http://gestalttheory.net/archive/luch1.html Schultz, Duane P. and Schultz, Sydney Ellen A History of Modern Psychology. Wadsworth Publishing; 8th edition. P.1,2,3,4 Scientific Convention of the GTA (2005). Values, Meaning and Facts. Retrieved on 11 May 2006 from http://www.gestalttheory.net/gtp/ TFD (2006). The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 5 May 2006 from http://www.tfd.com/gestalt Wikipedia (2006). Gestalt Psychology. Retrieved on 9 May 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_psychology Read More