GROUP 4

UNIT 3.2
COGNITIVE
PERSPECTIVE
Cognitive
Perspective
This operates on the belief that the brain is the
most important aspect in relation to the way that
an individual behaves or thinks. This perspective
states that to understand someone, you must first
be able to understand what is happening in their
mind.
s
FULL
QUIET
PLAYER
Learning Outcomes

 Describe the different gestalt principles.

 List ways of applying gestalt psychology in the

teaching-learning process.

 Demonstrate appreciation of the usefulness of

gestalt principles in the teaching-learning
process.
Module 9
Gestalt Psychology
• It believes that the whole of an object is more
important than its individual parts.

• Our minds tend to perceive objects as a part of

something larger and something more complex.

• Helps us understand human perception and sensation.

CONTRIBUTORS

MAX WERTHEIMER KURT KOFFKA WOLFGANG KOHLER

They suggested that learners do not just collect information as is

but they actively process and reconstruct data in order to
understand it.
Christmas lights are just lights sequentially turning on and off, and
there is actually no movement there. It is just how we see it as a
whole that makes up the illusion of movement.
 GESTALT PRINCIPLES
Law of Proximity Law of Good Continuation

Law of Similarity Law of Good Pragnanz

Law of Closure Law of Figure/Ground

Law of Proximity

When objects are placed close

to one another, we perceive them
to be related and to be a part of the
same group.

E.g. Letters that are put together

Law of Similarity

We tend to group together

objects which appear
similar to one another.
E.g. People supporting the team of
their choice. (wears the same color
based on the team they are supporting)
Law of Closure

• We prefer to see complete,

and not partial elements.

• We tend to fill gaps or “close”

the figures we perceive.

• We enclose a space by
completing a contour and
ignoring gaps in the figure.
Law of Good Continuation

• To maintain order, the brain will

carry on any visual pattern.

• People tend to draw a good

continuous line.

• We have a tendency to continue

contours whenever the elements
of the pattern establish an implied
direction.
Law of Good Pragnanz

• The word pragnanz is a German term

meaning “good figure.”
• The law of Pragnanz is sometimes referred
to as the law of good figure or the law of
simplicity.
• This law holds hat objects in the
environment are seen in a way that makes
them appear as simple as possible.
Law of Figure Ground
• People instinctively put objects in
foregrounds or backgrounds.

• We tend to place prominent objects

in the foreground, making them the
“figure,” and place other objects in
the background, making them the
ground.

• We tend to pay attention and perceive

things in the foreground first.
INSIGLT
LEARNIN
G a solution.
A type of learning or problem
solving that happens all-of-a-
sudden through understanding
the relationships of various
parts of a problem.
A cognitive form of learning involving the
mental rearrangements or restructuring of
the elements in a problem to achieve an
understanding of the problem and arrive to
It is the coordination
of thinking to create
new organization.
WOLFGANG KOHLER
CHIMP
PERIMENT

• Insight learning is the abrupt realization of

a problem solution. It is not a result of
observing someone else attempting the
problem.

• It is completely a cognitive experience that

requires the ability to visualize the
problem and the solution.
LIFE The “totality of possible events” for one person at a
particular time; a person's possible options together
with the environment that contains them. All these

SPACE
forces interact and impact on the person’s learning.

INNER FORCES OUTER FORCES

Include one’s own Include the attitude and

motivation, attitudes and behavior of the teacher and
feelings. classmates.
KURT KOFFKA
LIFE Suppose a person P is moving towards a goal of
getting social recognition. But to achieve the

SPACE
goal, he has to apologies. Asking for apology is
the barrier coming in his way. The barrier may
be physical or psychological forces preventing
him from reaching the goal. These forces
organize themselves into a pattern which
determines his future behavior.

The map is patterned with one’s needs, desires,

and goal, and vectors or arrows indicating the
directions and strengths of these forces -- all
operating as a Gestalt.
 APPLICATION OF GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY IN
THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS.

The Gestalt theory of learning depends on critical thinking and problem solving
skills to address certain problems or understand the whole of a situation.

Teachers should encourage their students to discover the relationship of the

elements that make up a problem.
 Law of Similarity

Lessons should Should be made

Closely
be planned with easy to make
related topics
the next and connections from
can be taught
previous in one lesson to the
together.
mind. next.
 Law of Good Continuation

Revisiting points Allows children to

from the last see links between Able to use previous
what they have knowledge to build
lesson at the previously learnt upon their
beginning of the and what they understanding.
already know.
next
 APPLICATION OF GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY IN
THE TEACHING-LEARNING PROCESS.

Learners must be given opportunities for using their mental abilities instead of
automatic responses to specific stimuli.

Problems presented should be through a meaningful whole, then it will be easy for
the students to find out the solution.

Insight learning, learning by understanding, and reasoning ability should be

encouraged in school.
 Law of Figure Ground

The most
important parts Key words can be Students need to
clearly understand
of a lesson easily underlined
the important parts
should stand out or highlighted. of a lesson.
from the rest.
 Law of Closure

If left unsure, a
A lesson or topic student might Teachers should
develop a ensure all students
must always be negative attitude have made
made complete. towards the significant progress.
subject.
 Why is Gestalt psychology important?

Gestalt psychology has influenced how we study perception and sensation. It also
increases our understanding of how our cognitive processes influence the way
we behave socially.

The Gestalt Theory is based on the idea that learning is a result of observing and
comprehending stimuli in relation to one another, not just individually. The
theory emphasizes the importance of an individual's awareness of their
environment and how it integrates with their previous knowledge and
experience.
Looks at the mind as
a whole.
THANK YOU