Which school of thought in psychology suggest that the whole of personal experience is different from the sum of its parts?

What is Gestalt?

This is a question often asked.  It then leads one to the next question which is, “Do you mean just Gestalt, Gestalt theory, Gestalt psychology, Gestalt therapy, Gestalt approach, or Gestalt principles?”   Perhaps the answer would be “all of them.”

Gestalt by definition is a physical, biological, or symbolic configuration or pattern of element so unified as a whole that its properties cannon\t be identified from a simple summation of its parts.

Gestalt theory, as Max Wertheimer explained when he put forth from his studies on the perception of movement, seeing an effect of the whole event, not contained in the sum of the parts.

Gestalt psychology is a school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole. When trying to make sense of the world around us, Gestalt psychology suggests that we do not simply focus on every small component.  Instead, our minds tend to perceive objects as part of a greater whole and as elements of more complex systems. This school of psychology played a major role in the modern development of the study of human sensation and perception.

Gestalt therapy, a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Fredrick S. Perls and others in the 1940s, influenced by Gestalt psychology, is a therapy that takes into account the whole individual and is concerned with the obstacles to the functioning of the whole in the context of the present.

Gestalt approach has the basic premise that life happens in the present—not in the past or the future—and that when we are dwelling on the past or fantasizing about the future we are not living fully.  Through living in the present we are able to take responsibility for our responses and actions.  To be fully present in the here and now offers us more excitement, energy, and courage to live life directly.

Gestalt principles commonly referenced are:

• Similarity – we tend to group similar items together
• Continuation - The law of continuity holds that points that are connected by straight or curving lines are seen in a way that follows the smoothest path.
• Closure – if something is missing in an otherwise complete figure, we will tend to add to it
• Proximity – The law of proximity suggests that objects near each other tend to be viewed as a group.
• Figure-ground – we seem to have an innate tendency to perceive one aspect of an event as the figure or fore-ground and the other as the ground or back-ground.

The Gestalt Institute of Cleveland (GIC) represents Gestalt.  It is the whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. GIC has cultivated unique experiential workshops and training programs steeped in Gestalt principles, methodologies, and approaches. This distinctive design, developed by its faculty, results in transformation at the individual, group, and organization levels. The successful techniques have attracted participants from around the world.

The German word ‘Gestalt’  generally translates to the way things are placed or put together as a whole. In the field of psychology, Gestalt involves a quest to understand how the brain perceives different experiences.

Do You Feel An Imbalance That’s Difficult To Describe?

Gestalt theory has played a role in several areas of psychology that seek to better understand the brain and social behavior. . Among other uses, counselors can employ Gestalt techniques to help people focus on the present, instead of feeling consumed by the past.

Gestalt psychology is a school of thought that perceives the whole as both different and greater than the sum of its parts.  Providing a framework for the study of perceptionGestalt theory posits thatand the attributes of the whole can't be deduced by analyzing any of the parts on their own.

To better illustrate how human perception works, Gestalt researchers proposed the laws of perceptual organization, including the laws of similarity, proximity, continuity, inclusiveness, closure, and connectedness. These laws explain how our brains group things to help us interpret the world around us:

• The law of similarity refers to grouping like things together to make a pattern of things that belong together. 

• Proximity means grouping things together according to how close together in space they are. 

• Continuity means grouping things together based on patterns to create a whole figure. 

• Inclusiveness suggests that we see all elements of an image before we see various parts of it. 

• Closure refers to seeing part of an image and being able to mentally fill in the gaps of what we assume should be there. 

Connectedness means that when we see objects moving in the same direction and at the same rate, and we tend to perceive them as a single object .How Did Gestalt Psychology Develop?

Gestalt theory originated in Austria and Germany as a reaction to associationist and structuralist schools of thought. 

Associationism theory suggests that pairs of thoughts connect based on experience. Structuralism -- one of the first schools of thought in psychology -- is founded upon a premis of breaking down mental processes into basic components. 

Gestalt theory focuses on the opposite: looking at wholes as transcending their parts. The “wholes” in Gestalt psychology included the study of consciousness, the objects of direct experience, and the science of phenomena.

Early researchers were unsettled by what seemed to be a sterile approach to the scientific study of mental health processes. Gestalt psychology was developed partly to add a humanistic element to the study of perception. Researchers in Gestalt psychology brought the qualities of form, meaning, and value into their work, whereas previous researchers had ignored them.

Who Is The  Founder of  Gestalt Psychology?

Max Wertheimer founded the Gestalt movement and became the first Gestalt psychologist. Additional credit for its go to psychologists like Wolfgang Köhler, Kurt Koffka, Kurt Goldstein, and Fritz. Later researchers in Gestalt psychology were Kurt Lewin, Rudolf Arnheim, and Hans Wallach.

Max Wertheimer wrote, "Experimentelle Studien über das Sehen von Bewegung" (Experimental Studies of the Perception of Movement) in 1912, which became a sort of eminent “textbook” of Gestalt psychology. Wertheimer worked in conjunction with psychologists Köhler and Koffka to develop the theory. Wertheimer also proved how Gestalt principles could be used to explain problems in ethics, the nature of truth, and political behavior.

The trio then applied Gestalt theory to issues of perception, including problem-solving, learning, and thinking. Wertheimer, Köhler, and Koffka had all relocated to the United States by the mid-1930s and become professors.

Later, and primarily by Kurt Lewin, Gestalt principles were also applied to motivation, social psychology, personality, aesthetics, and economic behavior.

Who Is the Founder Of Gestalt Therapy?

In 1926, Fritz Perls, a German psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, went to Frankfurt to become the assistant to Kurt Goldstein at the Institute for Brain-Damaged Soldiers. Goldstein was also a researcher in Gestalt theory. Perls had become disenchanted with certain Freudian theories and methods and sought to develop a new system of psychotherapy. 

In Frankfurt, Perls came under the tutelage of a great number of psychologists, psychoanalysts, and existential philosophers, all of whom had direct or indirect roles in Gestalt principles and therapy. It was at the Institute for Brain-Damaged Soldiers that Perls met his wife, Laura, who was also a student of Gestalt therapy.

The goal of Gestalt therapy is to help clients become aware of their primary sensations and  environment so they can respond more effectively in the present moment. Therapists guide clients to focus on the "here and now" as opposed to past experiences. Once clients can fully experience the present, they can more easily confront past conflicts or, as Perls called them, “incomplete Gestalts.”

What Are Examples Of Gestalt Psychology?

Finding examples of Gestalt psychology in our everyday lives is easy. In 1912, Wertheimer discovered the phi phenomenon. Have you ever had a flipbook of animated drawings where you run the pages of a small book through your fingers? Each page is a separate drawing, but when we flip them in rapid succession, we have the illusion that the subject is moving. This is an example of the phi phenomenon, which became the basis for motion pictures.

If you draw a circle on a piece of paper, erase half the circle, and view it again, your mind will still attempt to see the circle as a whole. This is an example of continuity.

If you've ever looked closely at an oil or acrylic painting of a landscape, you may notice that the painting is made up of varying brush strokes or effects from a palette knife that don't make sense when viewed up-close. However, if you back away from the painting, you perceive the brushstrokes as grass, trees, and solid ground. This is an example of similarity. We perceive the brushstrokes as similar to sights that we see in nature.

When you go into a restaurant and a group of people are standing by the bar in close proximity, you may assume that they are a group of friends because they are close together. This is an example of proximity.

What About Gestalt Psychology Today?

Today there are just over 60 Gestalt therapy institutions of learning around the world, and the number is growing. Nearly all large cities within the United States have at least one Gestalt institute. To date, there is no national organization devoted to Gestalt psychology; as such, there are no standards for the institutes to follow nor standards for trainers or trainees. Each institution develops its curriculum and has its own criteria for selecting students. 

For potential clients seeking to benefit from Gestalt therapy, each person has to come to their conclusions about Gestalt therapists’ qualifications and whether this type of therapy is the best treatment for them.

What Is Gestalt Therapy Like And What Can I Expect?

Gestalt therapy emphasizes personal responsibility for attaining one’s psychological and physical needs. A Gestalt therapist will consider issues like  freedom and responsibility, the immediacy of experience, and your role in creating meaning in your life. Gestalt therapy is a holistic approach that aims to resolve conflicts and ambiguities stemming from the inability to integrate various features of your personality.

Do You Feel An Imbalance That’s Difficult To Describe?

In therapy, participants will be urged to discuss memories and concerns using the present tense. The therapist may use dramatization of conflicts to help participants  make sense of their problems. For example, a therapist may ask them  to act out situations to bring out thoughts and perceptions that they  may have repressed.Is Gestalt Therapy Effective?

Not only did patients significantly improve in personality dysfunction, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships, but patients perceived the therapy as very helpful. The largest effect sizes were found when Gestalt therapy was used to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, and phobias.

Online therapy has been found equally effective as its in-person counterpart, when it comes to phobias and other conditions where counselors might use Gestalt techniques as primary treatment approaches.

What Are The Benefits of Online Therapy?

As discussed above, Gestalt therapy is a uniquely effective way to treat many psychological disorders. But when you’re struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, it can be hard to find the motivation to leave home. Online therapy eliminates that pressure.

In addition, online therapy offers lower pricing than in-person therapy because online therapists don’t have to pay for costs like renting an office. BetterHelp’s licensed therapists have helped people living with clinical disorders such as anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. Read below for some reviews of BetterHelp therapists from people experiencing similar issues.

Counselor Reviews

“Michele has been a terrific listener and has helped me identify new ways to help me battle my anxiety. She is very kind and I already feel I have made progress towards my goals!”

“It took me way longer than I'd like to admit to finally try something like BetterHelp, but looking back over the course of the past few months, I can easily say that I did myself a disservice by not trying something like this sooner. And specifically I appreciate whatever matching process BetterHelp utilizes, because I'm grateful and fortunate to have been matched with Nikole. She is such a supportive and proactive source of council. She has a kind and revealing way of speaking, and more than once has helped me to see things from new perspectives that have helped me build pathways toward healthier and stronger methods of dealing with things. I really don't have enough words to express how much I appreciate the progress and positive results I've been clearly seeing over the past few months, but I wholeheartedly would recommend her.”

Gestalt is a complex area of psychology. The research in this area has been instrumental in explaining human thought processes and behavior. By coming to understand how they can alter their own perceptions, participants in Gestalt therapy may experience a greater sense of agency and empowerment in their lives. The qualified therapists at  can connect you with a licensed therapist who will be able to tell you more about Gestalt psychology and whether its principles can help you resolve issues in your life.

FAQ

What Is Gestalt Theory In Psychology?

Gestalt theory was developed starting in 1912. The word ‘Gestalt’ means a unified and meaningful whole. The main tenet of Gestalt is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This theory is known for addressing the visual perception of objects, but it also applies to how we think. Thus, the Gestalt movement encompassed studies on both visual perception and perception of all life experiences.

What Is An Example Of Gestalt Psychology?

An example of the visual aspect of Gestalt psychology can be found in marquee lights. As the lightbulbs flash in succession, the light appears to move around the marquee. Although the bulbs themselves are stationary, we perceive motion. This is the same principle used to create motion pictures. This illusion of movement is a perceptual phenomenon that is neither accurate nor a hallucination. Rather, it is a way of perceiving the world that is natural and healthy.

What Are The Five Gestalt Principles?

Gestalt psychologists recognized five principles that relate to the way we perceive objects visually. The principles of Gestalt were born from observing how we perceive objects together, both as the sum of their parts and as something more than that. The five principles of Gestalt psychology are:

• The law of proximity

• The law of similarity

• The law of continuity

• The law of closure

• The law of connectedness

The law of proximity asserts that when objects or shapes are close together, we tend to perceive them as a group. The individual parts tend to be grouped together in our minds. Because of the law of proximity, we see these parts as one picture rather than several.

The law of similarity states that we tend to perceive objects that are similar as part of a whole. The individual elements are seen as one entity.

The law of continuity says we tend to perceive a line as continuing in the same direction as was already established.

The law of closure states that the mind tends to see a picture as complete even if it is incomplete.

The law of connectedness (also called the law of common fate) says that when we see objects moving in the same direction and at the same rate, we tend to perceive them as a single object.

However, these are only the main Gestalt laws. There are other principles of Gestalt as well, including the concept of figure-ground.

What Do Gestalt Psychologists Means By ‘Figure-Ground’?

Wertheimer and other Gestalt psychologists identified another feature of visual perception they called ‘figure-ground’. Figure-ground refers to the ability to recognize the difference between the primary design and the background of an image. Often you will see pictures that you can perceive in one of two ways, with either one part of the picture or another as the background. 

One figure-ground example is an image that looks like a candlestick one way and two faces the other way. The picture doesn't change, but the way you focus on it is different. The figure-ground roles change depending on how you perceive the picture.

Who Introduced Gestalt Psychology?

Max Wertheimer founded the Gestalt movement and became the first Gestalt psychologist. Before Wertheimer began his work, other psychologists proposed a variety of explanations for how we perceive objects, as well as theories about how we think, learn, and behave. The subjects in Wertheimer’s first studies of visual perception were Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Kofka, who later became his partners as Gestalt psychologists. These three psychologists represent the origin of Gestalt psychology.

Gestalt theory was also a response to the earlier theories of Wilhelm Wundt and others who believed in structuralism, which aimed to break mental processes down to their core elements. Wilhelm Wundt’s view of psychology was based on three theories: atomism, associationism, and sensationalism. Atomism (which is similar to structuralism) is the view that Gestalt theorists struggled most to accept. This theory states that all knowledge is built from simple elements. 

Max Wertheimer and other Gestalt psychologists believed that just the opposite was true. They thought that the best way to look at psychological phenomena was as organized, well-structured wholes. Thus, behavior did not arise from individual factors; rather, thought processes were themselves determined by complex perceptions.

Who Introduced Gestalt Therapy?

Frederick “Fritz” S. Perls developed Gestalt therapy in the 1940s. Perls sought to transcend Freudian psychoanalysis to develop a new type of therapy. Wertheimer’s perceptual theories about principles such as figure-ground intrigued him, and he appreciated that they could offer new perspectives on the human experience.

Great thinkers like Immanuel Kant and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe had already explored many of the ideas Perls drew upon to develop his Gestalt therapy. Perls combined existentialism, Gestalt theory, psychoanalysis, and humanist psychology to create his own unique type of therapy.

Many psychological theories start out as separate ideas and end up coming together to create or enhance other schools of thought. Over time, Gestalt principles were incorporated into other theories, yet continued to be practiced by Gestalt psychologists.

What Is The Phi Phenomenon?

The phi phenomenon was Wertheimer's discovery that started the Gestalt movement. During a vacation from his studies at the University of Frankfurt's Psychological Institute, Wertheimer stopped at a train station to buy a toy stroboscope, a spinning drum that has slots through which you can see pictures flashing by. It was similar to a flipbook in which you flip through still images to see a "moving" picture. 

Once Max Wertheimer got back to the university, he began to study the effect. The phi phenomenon, also called the law of apparent motion or persistence of vision, was the basis for Wertheimer's assertion that the segmented or mechanical approach that had been used earlier in the history of psychology was inadequate. His idea was that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

Which Psychologists Were Influenced By Max Wertheimer And His Work?

Some of the greatest Gestalt psychologists, as well as psychologists in other schools of thought, have been influenced by the work of Max Wertheimer and Gestalt psychology. Among them are Abraham Maslow, Solomon Asch, and George Katona.

How Is Gestalt Psychology Used Today?

Gestalt psychologists have changed their approach as modern psychology has progressed. Some of the fields in which Gestalt principles are used include:

• Gestalt therapy

• Social psychology

• Neurology

• Quantum cognitive modeling

• Cognitive psychology

• Perceptual psychology

• Visual arts and design

What Is A Gestalt Psychologist?

A Gestalt psychologist can be either a researcher or a therapist. Gestalt researchers study Gestalt phenomena that relate to principles such as the law of proximity or figure-ground. Gestalt researchers may also study the outcomes of Gestalt therapy.

Gestalt therapists use a holistic approach to help their clients live happier, fuller lives. They use the concepts of Gestalt, along with humanistic psychology, existentialism, and psychoanalysis, to help clients make sense of their world.

What Is Gestalt Explained Simply?

A Gestalt is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Gestalt psychologists and therapists often refer to “Gestalts,” both in their studies and in counseling clients.

What Is The Main Goal Of Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt therapists view therapy as a means to help clients understand themselves better. They want clients to understand how their choices impact both their own lives and the lives of those around them. Self-awareness, then, is the primary goal.

Other goals of Gestalt therapy include:

• Becoming more fully alive

• Getting past mental or emotional blocks

• Dealing with unfinished business

• Understanding things as they are, rather than as they could or should be

• Learning mindfulness techniques to relax the nervous system

• Recognizing the intrinsic nature of situations and how your perceptions reflect or distort that

• Learning to take individual responsibility for your actions

• Taking care of your mental and physical needs

• Improving communication skills

• Being able to tolerate negative emotions

Improving self-controlWhat Is The Difference Between Getstalt Psychology And Gestalt Therapy?

Gestalt psychology is about understanding the Gestalt laws: how they relate to visual perception and thought processes. Gestalt psychologists who are engaged in research study various aspects of Gestalt theory -- including the law of proximity and the concept of figure-ground—in structured experiments. Their goal is to explore subjects such as memory, learning, and behavior.

Psychologists who specialize in Gestalt therapy have different goals. They focus on helping clients understand their thought processes, make better decisions, and change their behavior. As clients see how the whole is greater than the combination of the parts, their thinking processes become clearer. With a new perspective, they can progress toward achieving life goals.

What Is Gestalt Therapy Used For?

Gestalt therapists use Gestalt theory to help clients with physical and mental health problems including:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Self-esteem

• Relationship problems

• Migraines

• Ulcerative colitis

• Back pain

• Unresolved anger

• Resentment

• Other negative feelings

How Does Gestalt Therapy Work?

Early in the development of Gestalt theory, Fritz Perls explained that each human should be viewed as a whole person with a body, mind, and soul, and the best perspective from which to view that whole was the person themselves. This outlook offers some clues about how Gestalt therapy works.

To increase self-awareness, the Gestalt therapist helps clients learn to express thoughts and emotions from a present-moment perspective. They ask participants to set aside any assumptions about their experiences and simply describe them. They also suggest that the participant treat each part of the events or objects described as equally significant.

Which school of thought in psychology suggests that the whole of personal experience is different from the sum of its parts group of answer choices?

Which school of thought in psychology suggests that the whole of personal experience is different?

What psychology is an approach that focuses on the idea that the whole is different from the sum of its parts?

What psychology acknowledges that an experience is different than the sum of its elements?