Gestalt_Psychology

Gestalt Psychology Founded by Max Wertheimer ,Gestalt psychology surfaced as a theoretical school in Germany early in the 20th century. Gestalt psychology was based on the belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Gestalt is German for "form" or "shape". An example of this fundamental principle is provided by the phi phenomenon, first described by Wertheimer. The phi phenomenon is the illusion of movement created by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession. For example, movies and TV consist of separate still pictures projected rapidly one after the other. Although we see smooth motion, in reality the moving objects merely take a slightly different position in successive frames. The same principle is illustrated by electric signs, such as those on movie marquees or at road construction sites. The bulbs going on and off in turn, with the appropriate timing, give the impression of motion. Of course, nothing in the sign really moves. The elements are stationary. Working as a whole, however, they have a property that isn't evident in any of the parts. Gestalt psychology's emergence in 1912 was in part a reaction against structuralism, an influential school of thought in Germany at the time. Obviously, the structuralists' gestalt, experience, therapist, dialogue, awareness, psychology, whole, therapy, rather, parts, equilibrium, thus, psychological, phenomenological, patient, organism, field, contact, between, anxiety, theoretical, something, school, process, principle, presence, patient's, need, however, fundamental, wertheimer, two, towards, therapeutic, really, people