2. We see everything
for the first time..
We see everything for the first time.

3. Scientists, psychologists in particular, have attempted to
discover how the human visual system perceives and grasps
entities. One of the earliest and intuitively most acceptable
theories about perception was proposed by Wertheimer in 1923,
and later elaborated by Koffka in 1935. These Gestaltists
formulated the principles or “laws” of grouping or patterning.
Gestalt is a German word which means:
whole, entity or entirety.

5. The whole is greater than the sum of
its parts.

6. • Figure-Ground
We organize the
world so some
parts of a stimulus
stand out (figure)
in front of other
parts (ground)

7. • Figure-Ground

8. • Figure-Ground

9. • Figure-Ground

10. • Figure-Ground

11. • Figure-Ground

12. • Figure-Ground

13. • Figure-Ground

14. • Similarity
Objects that look alike tend to be
grouped together.

15. • Similarity

16. • Proximity
• Elements close together tend
to organize into units.

17. • Proximity
Do you see
rows or
columns?

18. • Continuity
• We see lines as being continuous if
they do not bend sharply.
• We group things together if they
seem to form a continuous pattern.

19. • Continuity
Continuous
pattern
Continuous
line

20. • Closure
• We tend to complete figures with
gaps in them, by ignoring the gaps
and mentally filling in what we
believe should be there.

21. • Closure

22. • Closure

23. • Closure

24. • Continuity and Closure

25. • Simplicity
• We tend to impose the simplest,
best-fitting interpretation on any
stimulus.

26. In the following picture, we tend to
see overlapping simple geometric
figures rather than complex
polygons.

27. • Simplicity

28. Gestalt theory claims that problem
solving is productive and reproductive.

29. Reproductive problem solving draws
on previous experiences whereas
productive problem solving involves
insight and restructuring of the
problem.

30. Reproductive problem solving could
be a hindrance to finding a solution,
since a person may fixate on the
known aspects of a problem and so
be unable to see novel interpretations
that might lead to a solution.

32. •Visual Illusions
• Reveal information about the
visual system.
• Sometimes derive from
perspective cues.

42. Scale

43. Scale

44. Hidden Images

45. Hidden Images

46. Hidden Images

47. Ambiguities

48. Ambiguities

49. Ambiguities

50. Ambiguities

51. Point of View

52. Point of View
The whole is different
than the sum of its parts.

53. Point of View

54. Point of View

55. Point of View

56. Point of View

57. Point of View

58. Point of View

59. Point of View

60. Point of View

61. Point of View

62. Point of View

63. Point of View

64. Point of View

65. Subtleties
Look at the following slide and identify
who is in it.

66. Subtleties

67. Subtleties
Try again?

68. Subtleties