The Gestalt Laws
The
Gestalt Laws: Is Our Perception of the World Due to Inborn Organizing
Tendencies?
Kurt Koffka
(1886–1941), one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, said that the great
question of perception is: ―Why do things look the way they do? At first the question
seems almost silly. We are tempted to answer, ―Because things are they way they
are. It would seem that tall things look tall because they are tall.
And distant things look distant because they are distant. On the other
hand, why does the Moon look larger just above the horizon than it does when
it‘s overhead? It hasn‘t gotten any bigger, or any closer.
(1886–1941), one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, said that the great
question of perception is: ―Why do things look the way they do? At first the question
seems almost silly. We are tempted to answer, ―Because things are they way they
are. It would seem that tall things look tall because they are tall.
And distant things look distant because they are distant. On the other
hand, why does the Moon look larger just above the horizon than it does when
it‘s overhead? It hasn‘t gotten any bigger, or any closer.
Koffka‘s question does
not have to be limited to the sense of vision. The same question could be
adapted to the other senses. Sensation is the raw data of experience. Perception,
on the other hand, is the organization and the meaning we give to primitive
information. It can be said with some that we use sensory information to create
a psychological world.
not have to be limited to the sense of vision. The same question could be
adapted to the other senses. Sensation is the raw data of experience. Perception,
on the other hand, is the organization and the meaning we give to primitive
information. It can be said with some that we use sensory information to create
a psychological world.
Returning to Koffka, he
said that there is a distinction between the geographical world and the
psychological world. The geographical world is the actual world ―out
there, the world as defined and described by physics. The psychological
world is the world ―in here, the world as experienced by the subject.
Although common sense usually says it‘s the so-called ―real world or physical
world that determines our behavior, it can be argued that common sense isn‘t
sufficiently analytical. Reflection suggests that we behave in terms of what we
perceive to be true, not necessarily in terms of what is actually true.
said that there is a distinction between the geographical world and the
psychological world. The geographical world is the actual world ―out
there, the world as defined and described by physics. The psychological
world is the world ―in here, the world as experienced by the subject.
Although common sense usually says it‘s the so-called ―real world or physical
world that determines our behavior, it can be argued that common sense isn‘t
sufficiently analytical. Reflection suggests that we behave in terms of what we
perceive to be true, not necessarily in terms of what is actually true.
Max Wertheimer, the
father of Gestalt psychology, proposed a set of supplemental inborn organizing
tendencies, or Gestalt laws. (The Gestalt laws are also traditionally
called innate tendencies, which simply means ―inborn. The words innate
and inborn can be used interchangeably.)
father of Gestalt psychology, proposed a set of supplemental inborn organizing
tendencies, or Gestalt laws. (The Gestalt laws are also traditionally
called innate tendencies, which simply means ―inborn. The words innate
and inborn can be used interchangeably.)
First, proximity refers to the
nearness of the elements that make up a perception. If four ink dots on a piece
of paper are arranged in the form of a square, this Gestalt (i.e., organized
whole) will, of course, be perceived to be a square.
nearness of the elements that make up a perception. If four ink dots on a piece
of paper are arranged in the form of a square, this Gestalt (i.e., organized
whole) will, of course, be perceived to be a square.
Second, similarity refers to
characteristics that elements have in common. Let‘s
say that the word airplane is printed on a page in a single color of
ink. Imagine that the same word is printed on a different page with its letters
randomly appearing in black, red, and green. The second word is more difficult
to perceive as a whole word, as a perceptual object, than is the first word.
Similarity of the elements helps to make a perceptual object a coherent whole.
characteristics that elements have in common. Let‘s
say that the word airplane is printed on a page in a single color of
ink. Imagine that the same word is printed on a different page with its letters
randomly appearing in black, red, and green. The second word is more difficult
to perceive as a whole word, as a perceptual object, than is the first word.
Similarity of the elements helps to make a perceptual object a coherent whole.
Third, closure
is the tendency to fill in gaps in information and make a perceptual object
into a complete whole. Imagine that an arc of 340 degrees is drawn on a piece
of paper. Although at a sensory level this is an arc, you will tend to perceive
it as a broken circle, as a coherent whole with a defect. (An unbroken circle
has 360 degrees.) A newspaper photograph made up of nothing but disconnected
dots is nonetheless perceived as a picture of people or things. Again, the
principle of closure is at work.
is the tendency to fill in gaps in information and make a perceptual object
into a complete whole. Imagine that an arc of 340 degrees is drawn on a piece
of paper. Although at a sensory level this is an arc, you will tend to perceive
it as a broken circle, as a coherent whole with a defect. (An unbroken circle
has 360 degrees.) A newspaper photograph made up of nothing but disconnected
dots is nonetheless perceived as a picture of people or things. Again, the
principle of closure is at work.
Fourth,
common fate exists when all of the elements of a perceptual object move
or act together. (Their simultaneous activity is, in a sense, a ―common fate.)
When this happens, the perceptual object is quickly organized into a figure and
is easily discriminated from a ground. For example, a polar bear with white fur
surrounded by snow is more easily seen as a bear when it is moving than when it
is stationary.
common fate exists when all of the elements of a perceptual object move
or act together. (Their simultaneous activity is, in a sense, a ―common fate.)
When this happens, the perceptual object is quickly organized into a figure and
is easily discriminated from a ground. For example, a polar bear with white fur
surrounded by snow is more easily seen as a bear when it is moving than when it
is stationary.
Other organizing
tendencies exist; however, the ones presented make clear the role that they
appear to play in perception.
tendencies exist; however, the ones presented make clear the role that they
appear to play in perception.
(Sumber: Catatan Reading Text for English for Psychology of Student)
