Gestalt Psychology

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Chapter 14 Gestalt Psychology
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Antecedents 418-420 1. Immanuel Kant (faculties
of the mind characteristics of the
brain.) 2. Ernst Mach Space forms and time
forms. 3. Christian von Ehrenfels Uber
Gestaltqualitaten (1890), like J.S. Mills
emergent properties. 4. Will James stream of
consciousness 5. Franz Brentanos act
psychology influenced Stumpf 6. Field theory in
physics force fields hard to understand in
Galilean Newtonian perspective, Teslas
inventions, etc. Kohler studied with Max Planck.
1880-1943
1. U of Prague (Ehrenfels) 2. U of Berlin
(Stumpf) 3. Wurzburg (PhD 1904, Kulpe) 4.
Frankfurt (1910-1916,1929-1933), Berlin
(1916-1929), New School for Social Research
(1933-) 5. Productive Thinking (Einstein)
Max Wertheimer
1886-1941
1. PhD in1908 w Stumpf, Berlin 2. Wurzburg,
Frankfurt (W K), and then Giessen until 1924 3.
Perception An Introduction to Gestalt-Theorie
(Psych. Bull., 1922) 4. Smith Coll., MA 5.
Principles of Gestalt Psychology (1935)
Kurt Koffka
1. Estonian 2. PhD in1909 w Stumpf, Berlin 3.
U of Frankfurt (1909), 1910 resch on Gestalt 4.
Anthropoid station on Tenerife (1913) 5.
Gottingen (1921), then Berlin (1922) 6. Visiting
prof at Clark (1925-26), Harvard (1934-35),
Chicago (1935) 7. Gestalt Psych (1929) 8. Moved
to USA in 1935, Swarthmore College
1887-1967
Wolfgang Kohler
1. PhD in 1914 w Stumpf, Berlin 2. U of Berlin
until 1932 (WKK) 3. Stanford (1932) 4. Cornell
(1933-1935) 5. U of Iowa (1935-44) 6. MIT Rsch
Ctr Grp Dynamics (1944-47) Concepts 1.
Aristotelian vs. Galilean 2. Life space
(principle of contemporaneity) 3. Motivation
(Zeigarnik effect) 4. Conflict
(approach-avoidance, etc.) 5. Group dynamics,
encounter groups, etc.
1890-1947
Kurt Lewin
1950
1925
1900
1875
1850
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• Summarize the disagreements that the Gestaltists
  had with Wundts experimental program, the
  structuralists, and the behaviorists. (426)
• Differentiate the molecular approach to
  psychology from the molar approach.
• Describe similarities and differences that
  existed between the positions of Kant, Mach,
  Ehrenfels, James, and the act psychologists, on
  the one hand, and the Gestaltists, on the other.
  (419-420)
• Explain what is meant by the contention that
  Gestalt theory used field theory as its model and
  empriical-associationistic psychology used
  Newtonian physics as its model. (420)
• What is the phi phenomenon? What was its
  importance in the formation of the Gestalt school
  of psychology? (420)
• What is meant by the contention that Gestalt
  analysis proceeds from the top down rather than
  from the bottom up? (426)
• Contrast the Gestalt notion of psychophysical
  isomorphism with the constancy hypothesis. (426)
• What is the law of Pragnanz? (Focal colors.)
  Describe the importance of this law to Gestalt
  psychology.
• What is perceptual constancy? Give an example.
  How did the Gestaltists explain the perceptual
  constancies? (428)
• Briefly define each of the following
  figure-ground relationship, principle of
  continuity, principle of proximity, principle of
  similarity, principle of inclusiveness, and
  principle of closure. (429-430)
• Distinguish between subjective and objective
  reality. According to the Gestaltists, which is
  more important in determining behavior? Give an
  example. (430-431)
• How did the Gestaltists explain learning? In your
  answer, summarize the characteristics of
  insightful learning. (431-434)

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• What is transposition? Summarize the Gestalt and
  the behavioristic explanations of this
  phenomenon. (434)
• For Wertheimer, what represents the best type of
  problem solving? Contrast this type of problem
  solving with rote memorization and logical
  problem solving. (Gauss example, 434-436)
• Summarize the Gestalt explanation of memory.
  Include in your answer definitions of memory
  process, memory trace, and trace system. What
  does it mean to say that memory is governed by
  the law of Pragnanz? (436-437)
• For Lewin, how does psychology based on
  Aristotles view of nature differ from psychology
  based on Galileos view of nature? Give an
  example of each. (437-438)
• What did Lewin mean by life space? Include in
  your answer the definition of psychological fact.
  (438-439)
• Summarize Lewins theory of motivation. In your
  answer, distinguish between needs and quasi
  needs. (439)
• What is the Zeigarnik effect? Describe the
  research used to demonstrate the effect. (439)
• Describe the three types of conflict studies by
  Lewin and give an example of each. (439-440)
• Summarize Lewins work on group dynamics. (440)
• Summarize the impact that Gestalt psychology has
  had on contemporary psychology. (440-441)

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End