Gestalt psychology emerged in the early 20th century as a response to structuralism and behaviourism, emphasising the holistic nature of perception and mental processes. In a 300-word essay, discuss the development, principles, and impact of Gestalt psychology within the history of psychology.

Address the following points:

– Origins and Founders:
Explore the origins of Gestalt psychology, highlighting the contributions of Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka. Discuss how their work on perception, including the phi phenomenon, laid the foundation for this school of thought.

– Core Principles:
Explain key Gestalt principles of perception, such as figure-ground organization, proximity, similarity, closure, and continuity. Use examples to illustrate how these principles demonstrate the idea that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

– Contributions and Legacy:
Analyse the influence of Gestalt psychology on later fields, such as cognitive psychology, visual perception, and problem-solving. How did its emphasis on holistic processing challenge or complement other psychological approaches?

– Criticisms and Evolution:
Reflect on criticisms of Gestalt psychology, such as its lack of empirical rigour. How did these criticisms impact its scientific acceptance and integration into modern psychology?

– Relevance Today:
Conclude by discussing how Gestalt psychology’s ideas remain relevant in contemporary psychology and other disciplines, such as design, education, and neuroscience. (750 to 3,000 characters) *

Foundations-1B: History of Psychology

Week 7 Essay