GCSE Psychology

Gestalt Laws

Learning objectives

• To learn about Gestalt laws including figure ground and the law of similarity.

• To become familiar with the laws of proximity, continuity and closure.

Gestalt Laws

• ‘The whole is worth more than the sum of its parts’.

• What does this mean?

Gestalt Laws

• Read page 18 in text book.• Copy definitions for Gestalt laws, figure-ground

and similarity into your books. • Read page 19.• Copy the ‘figure ground’ table into your books to

help you understand the concept.• How does similarity help us in perception?• Complete questions 1-3 at the bottom of page 19.

Gestalt Laws

• In pairs, read pages 20 and 21.• Be able to explain to each other the concepts

of proximity, continuity and closure.• Write definitions for proximity, continuity and

closure.• Complete both ‘Quick checks’ on page 19 and

the one n page 21.

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

• For each of the following slide say which law is at work

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

1)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

2)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

3)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

4)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

5)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

6)

The laws of proximity, continuity and closure

• Answers• 1 = proximity• 2 = continuity• 3 = closure• 4 = closure• 5 = proximity• 6 = continuity

Homework

• Go online to the heineman hotlinks and have a go at the visual illusions. Use the instructions on page 19 to help you to do this.

• Complete the secret agent task, follow the blog and bring your Psychology file for next lesson (I shall be checking).