The Gestalt Theory

Gestalt is a theory of the mind. It is a German word meaning shape or form of a psychological concept based upon how the human brain reacts to visual perception and how we unconsciously group entities together based upon their similarities. This theory was created in the 1920's by Max Wetheimer, Wolfganag Kohler, Kurt Koffka and Fritz Perls who were all fascinated in this modernistic revelation. They all teamed together to test the ability of the brain, research the capability of it and extend the knowledge behind how and why we see things in certain idiosyncratic way. Since then it has allowed humans to understand: why we unknowingly judge and group things together within seconds of seeing it and also how we can see something as a whole yet we can break it down to allow us to perceive it differently.

 There are 5 main principles of The Gestalt Theory:

Closure: Closure is when the brain sees an incomplete image and unconsciously puts it together to allow us to visualise a full image, even though one is not there. For example this image on the left is showing 6 pentagons. The arrangement they are in replicates one of a football's markings and they are also all within an invisible outline of a circle, yet it is still incomplete. Therefore, our brain automatically puts it together because we recognise it and it completes the image of a football.

Proximity: Proximity is where the brain sees shapes near each other and automatically categorises them together. As an example I have used this image on the left, it has 16 solid black dots in it. Due to the position they are in we put them together and see two rectangles instead all because they are near each other.

Similarity: This theory is when if objects have similarities then we will group them together regardless. For example this picture has differences in it, the white circle with purple outlines, but our brain somewhat ignores it and still classes it as equal, because it is still a circle.

Continuity: This theory is when the brain can process an image as it is but it visualises it from left to right as it is programmed to see it that way. In the Western world we read from left to right, we write from left to right and surprise surprise we see things from left to right. This image illustrates a 2 swirls overlapping and it is annotated with which part of the picture we see first due to this continuity theory.

Symmetry: This is the theory of when we see a symmetrical image our brain atomically jumps to the conclusion that it is pleasing and fulfilling. This is because at whatever angle we wish to view it from it stays exactly the same and immune of fault. This can be then continued and used as communication tool which is very impressive.