This article is an attempt to connect some of the basic theoretical assumptions of Gestalt theory with the practice of living in the 21st century against a background of seemingly uncontrollable, violent sectarian/tribal conflict. Gestalt theory is located within a postmodern epistemology whose strengths are critically explored, as well as the tendency toward a skepticism that can deteriorate i...

BACKGROUND Clinical probability assessment is combined with d-dimer testing to exclude pulmonary embolism (PE). PURPOSE To compare the test characteristics of gestalt (a physician's unstructured estimate) and clinical decision rules for evaluating adults with suspected PE and assess the failure rate of gestalt and rules when used in combination with d-dimer testing. DATA SOURCES Articles in...

In 1923, Max Wertheimer proposed a research programme and method in visual perception. He conjectured the existence of a small set of geometric grouping laws governing the perceptual synthesis of phenomenal objects, or "gestalt" from the atomic retina input. In this paper, we review this set of geometric grouping laws, using the works of Metzger, Kanizsa and their schools. In continuation, we e...

The Gestalt school of psychological thought originated in Germany early in the 20 th century (for a comprehensive review, see Koffka, 1935). It is best known for its theoretical and empirical contributions to understanding the organization of perceptual experience, including the nature of perceived groups, objects, parts, properties, and the relations among them, but was extended to address iss...

In the 1920s Max Wertheimer enunciated a credo of Gestalt theory: the properties of any of the parts are governed by the structural laws of the whole. Intense efforts at the time to discover these laws had only very limited success. Psychology was in the grips of the Fechnerian tradition to seek exact relationships between the material and the mental and, because the Gestalt movement could not ...

Information Systems and Computer Science educators have campaigned to increase mathematical content in the computing curriculum. Unfortunately, mathematical concepts are often presented in a manner that conflicts with the general mental framework, or gestalt, of IS and CS students. However, there is more than one gestalt in mathematics. In previous research, we developed two scales for measurin...

We investigated whether adults and infants aged 3, 5, and 9 months perceive the unity and boundaries of visible objects in accord with the Gestalt relations of color and texture similarity, good continuation, or good form. Adults and infants were presented with simple but unfamiliar displays in which all three Gestalt relations specified either one object or two objects-perception of the object...

objectives: loneliness is a common experience of people, regardless of gender, age, socio economic and cultural experience in the course of its life. the aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of gestalt group therapy on the loneliness of alzheimer’s caregivers. methods: in an experimental study with a pre-post test design and control group, women participants were selected from alz...

Almost a century has elapsed since the Gestalt psychologists first emphasized the importance of internal organization processes to perception. The work of Gestaltists has had an enormous influence on perceptual psychology; largely through their compelling visual demonstrations which can be found in most textbooks on perception. However, Gestalt concepts such as Pragnanz, isomorphism, wholism, a...

Four aspects of Gestalt practice that are particularly relevant to HIV-related therapy are explored: the client-therapist relationship, the phenomenonological method, awareness as the goal of therapy, and experiments and role playing. Applying the Gestalt ideals of self-regulation, wholeness, and growth to a person with HIV is vital to counteract the patient's loss of immune function. The Gesta...