Gestalt & Visual Thinking

Question 1

Figure / Ground Contours and Objects

Answer 1

Note the small, sharp places where the continuing contour changes direction-the bigger curves don’t pop out visually and how we don’t have as many names for them either

Question 2

Figure / Ground
Negative & Positive Space

Answer 2

The figure also known as the positive space, refers to the image(s) that are visually dominant on the ground. The ground, sometimes referred to as the ‘negative’ space or the background, is the surrounding area that the figure is placed upon. An image can be figure dominant or ground dominant.

Question 3

Gestalt

Answer 3

German word for shape or form
Says that the mind forms a whole without understanding all of the individual parts
The principle maintains that the human eye sees objects in their entirety before perceiving their individual parts, suggesting the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

Question 4

Good Gestalt

Answer 4

Suggests that we eliminate complexity and unfamiliar things from what we observe so that we can see the world in its most simple form
By eliminating extraneous visual information our minds are free to create meaning

Question 5

Gestalt Groupings

Answer 5

Simplicity
Similarity
Proximity
Closure
Continuity
Symmetry

Question 6

Simplicity

Answer 6

If objects are similar to each other we perceive them as a group. For ex, we see this as two circles not three irregular shapes
Our minds group similar elements including form, color, size, orientation, brightness

Question 7

Similarity

Answer 7

We see two groups based on the size of the elements
If objects are similar to each other we perceive them as a group. Similarities include form, color, size, orientation, brightness.

Question 8

Law of Proximity

Answer 8

We see two groups based on the closeness of the elements
When objects are spaced with uniform proximity to each other we perceive them as a group

Question 9

Closure

Answer 9

We close the gap in the shape
We see objects as whole even when they’re incomplete. We do this with shapes, letters, and pictures, If part of the image is missing we fill in the gaps

Question 10

Continuity

Answer 10

We see two long lines crossing rather than four short lines converging
Predicts the preference for continuous figures. We perceive the figure as two crossed lines instead of 4 lines meeting at the center

Question 11

Symmetry

Answer 11

We tend to close symmetrical forms to make a single object

Question 12

Gestalt Grouping

Answer 12

Gestalt Perpetual Theory functions hierarchically in human vision & cognition:
1. Seeing a pattern that defines an object
2. Seeing a grouping or pattern of objects
3. Seeing groups of groups or a pattern of patterns