Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt Psychology is the study of how humans perceive things in patterns rather than separate components. The word ‘Gestalt’ is a German word for shape or form of which embodies the idea of grouping or unified whole. Gestalt theory has certain laws of perceptual organisation to outline the fundamentals/principles of it.

  • Proximity — Elements tend to be perceived as groups if they are placed near each other.
  • Common Fate — Elements tend to be perceived as groups if they move together (despite unequal distances between each other).
  • Similarity — Elements tend to be perceived as groups if they are similar to each other in terms of visual attributes such as lightness/ colour/ size/ orientation/ shape.
  • Continuity — Groups tend to be perceived as whole if they are aligned with each other.
  • Closure — Elements tend to be perceived as whole even when they are not closed figure.
  • Figure and Ground — Smaller areas tend to be perceived as figures if they are against a larger background. Dark figures on light background are perceived easily due to its commonness.
  • Symmetry and Surroundedness — Symmetrical areas tend to be perceived as figures if they are against asymmetrical backgrounds while surrounded areas tend to be perceived as figures.
  • Past Experience — Elements tend to be perceived as groups if they are seen often from past experience of the observer.

Some existing examples in the market:

Proximity

Surroundedness

Similarity, Closure

                     

Similarity, Closure                              Closure

Continuity

   

Proximity, Past Experience