Characters remaining: 500/500
Translation

gestalt psychology

Academic
Friendly

Gestalt Psychology (noun)

Definition: Gestalt psychology is a theory in psychology that focuses on how people perceive and understand things as whole structures rather than just a collection of individual parts. The word "gestalt" comes from German and means "shape" or "form." This theory suggests that our minds organize sensory information into meaningful patterns.

Usage Instructions:
  • You can use "gestalt psychology" when discussing theories of perception, learning, or cognitive processes.
  • It's often applied in areas such as art, design, and therapy to understand how people interpret visual information and experiences.
Example:
  • "According to gestalt psychology, we see a group of dots as a triangle if they are arranged in a triangular shape, rather than just as separate dots."
Advanced Usage:
  • In more advanced discussions, you might explore how gestalt psychology applies to areas like problem-solving and social interactions, emphasizing concepts such as "figure-ground relationship" (how we distinguish objects from their background) and "law of proximity" (how we perceive elements that are close together as a group).
Word Variants:
  • Gestalt (noun): Refers to a shape or form; can be used in various fields like art and philosophy.
  • Gestaltist (noun): A person who studies or practices gestalt psychology.
Different Meanings:
  • While "gestalt" primarily refers to a psychological concept, it can also refer to the overall form or structure of anything, like a piece of art or a situation.
Synonyms:
  • Holistic psychology (focuses on the whole rather than the parts)
  • Configurational psychology (emphasizes the arrangement and relationships of parts)
Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
  • There aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "gestalt psychology," but you can use phrases like "see the big picture," which aligns with the gestalt idea of understanding the whole rather than just the parts.
Summary:

Gestalt psychology is about understanding how we perceive and organize information as a whole.

Noun
  1. (psychology) a theory of psychology that emphasizes the importance of configurational properties

Comments and discussion on the word "gestalt psychology"