Perceptual Organization refers to how we sense things in our environment and interact with them. Gestalt psychology or theory evolved when a group of German psychologists; Wertheimer, Koffka and Kohler began to question the then prominent principles structuralism and behaviorism. They argued that it was not possible to break down psychological processes. This theory, demonstrated that our perceptions are highly organized and have immediate, vivid qualities that cannot be explained in terms of piecing together basic elements. The psychologists had the opinion that our perceptions are inherently configurational, meaning that the elements making up the perception could not be separated from the way in which those elements were combined as a whole. This theory is known as 'Gestalt' taken from the German word for "form ".

The Gestalt Approach is summed up as “The whole is different than the sum of its parts.” An example of this fundamental principle is provided by the phi phenomenon, first described by Wertheimer (1912). The phi phenomenon is the illusion of movement created by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession. For example, movies and TV consist of separate sti

The Trace system concept explains why individuals forget. Forgetting can occur when the trace disappears or the trace cannot influence or communicate with a new process .

In learning and memory, Gestalt theory employs the belief in the presence of Trace systems. "Processes (that which goes on because of the present stimulating situation), leave traces in the form of chemical products in the brain. A trace must be formed in such a way that it will facilitate its own recurrence" Every new process or experience can contain a trace from a previous experience, thereby that previous experience having an affect on the new experience. Learning can be "defined as consisting of the creation of trace systems of a particular kind, the consolidation of these aggregates, and the increased availability of these trace systems in repeated and in new situations" The act of repetition or drilling which often occurs in learning situations based on Behaviorism can actually hinder the learning process. When learning is acquired through repetition, the trace becomes only available to that one process and hence less available to other processes. If a trace or past experience is not available to use for new processes, relating that new process or information to other information is impossible. This would make problem solving and development of critical thinking skills difficult.

In recent years, Gestalt psychologists have proposed three new principles in addition to the six outlined above. Stephen Palmer (1992, 1999) and Palmer and Irvin Rock (1994) introduced the principles of common region, element connectedness and synchrony.

The principles of Gestalt therapy are human motivation: the individual’s need to give meaning to their perceptions and existence; figure-ground formation: the focus of our awareness; awareness: an affirmation that figure and ground cannot be perceived at the same time; the personality, which is divided into the top dog and the under dog; and wholeness: human beings can be understood only within the present system of which they are a significant component part .

Gestalt therapy has been found to be ineffective with psychotic or severely disturbed individuals. Instead, Gestalt therapy is more effective with individuals whose functioning is limited or inconsistent, due to their internal restrictions and minimal enjoyment of living. Gestalt therapy's emphasis on awareness, self-support and responsibility has also been criticized. This is because it serves to magnify the role and importance of the individual and understates the importance of ongoing relationships, and the effects of the vocational, institutional, and cultural systems of which the individual is a part. This could result in relationships being viewed as of secondary importance to the internal happenings of the individual, and the marked influence of family and other external pressures and difficulties could be ignored. Therefore, "the emphasis on the patient himself as being solely in possession of the key to his own destiny and happiness can distort the realities of everyday existence"

ll 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

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