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' interest
Basically, Gestalt therapy is concerned with the interaction between the organism and its environment (Baumgardner, 1975). In the healthy organism, many needs are present at any one time. These organize themselves into a hierarchy of importance, as a natural process. The most dominant need forms, or becomes figure. In order to satisfy this need, the organism searches its environment for the desired object, when the object is found, the organism acts to assimilate it. The Gestalt psychologists have extensively discussed the concept of the connection between the sensory and motor activities for many years. When the needed object has been assimilated, the Gestalt is closed, and a state of equilibrium is reached. The formerly dominant need recedes from awareness, and the energy thus freed is directed towards the next most dominant need. Organisms are thus self-regulatory or homeostatic. In this way, the organism is regarded as being "born with the capacity to cope with life" (Simkin, 1976, p.17). 3. Commitment to dialogue. Contact is more than something two people do to each other. Contact is something that happens between people, something that arises from the interaction between them. The Gestalt therapist surrenders himself/herself to this interpersonal process. This is allowing contact to happen rather than manipulating, making contact, and controlling the outcome. 4. Dialogue is lived. Dialogue is something done rather than talked about. The mode of dialogue can be dancing, song, words, or any modality that expresses and moves the energy between or among the participants. An important contribution of Gestalt therapy to phenomenological experimentation is enlarging the parameters to include explication of experience by nonverbal expressions. However, the interaction is limited by ethics, appropriateness, therapeutic task, and so on. The therapeutic relationship in Gestalt therapy emphasizes four characteristics of di
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Wolfgang Kohler,
America Gestalt,
Germany Obviously,
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awareness gestalt,
conscious experience,
phi phenomenon,
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Approximate Word count = 1307
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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