Wize University Psychology Textbook > History of Psychology
Gestalt Psychology
Popular Courses
MCAT
General Course
Psychology
University Study Guides
PSYC 100A
Queen's University
PSYCH 1X03
McMaster University
PSYCH 104
University of Alberta
PSYCH 1002
Western University
PSYC 1000
University of Guelph
Psychology
University Study Guides
PSYC 100
McGill University
PSY100H1
University of Toronto
PSYC 101
University of British Columbia
PSYC 1010
York University
PSYC 102
University of British Columbia
PSYC 100B
Queen's University
PSYC 100A
University of Victoria
PSYC 200
Concordia University
PSYC 1004
Virginia Tech
PSYCH 100
Pennsylvania State University
PSC 001
University of California - Davis
PSY 101
Michigan State University
0:00 / 0:00
Gestalt Psychology
Gestalt psychologists thought that structuralists and functionalists had it all wrong - focusing on the components of consciousness missed the bigger picture.
Gestalt psychology can be summarized by saying "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" - when you look at a painting, you see more than just different coloured blobs! They sought to discover principles of perceptual organization and thought that explained how we interpret the world.
Mark Yourself Question
- Grab a piece of paper and try this problem yourself.
- When you're done, check the "I have answered this question" box below.
- View the solution and report whether you got it right or wrong.
Practice: Gestalt Psychology
What was the Gestalt psychologists' main critique of functionalism and structuralism?