What is Gestalt theory: therapy and main laws

This current of psychology was born in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, its theories revolutionized the field of psychology and psychotherapy. Gestalt theory radically changed the approach used to apply therapy to patients at that time, focusing on the experiences and experiences of the human being and working on concepts such as decision-making, self-knowledge or the famous concept of "the now".

You want to know what is Gestalt theory, its therapy and main laws? Then we recommend you continue reading this article on Psychology-Online. We provide you with all the information you need to know if you are interested or interested in this psychological therapy.

Index

1. Gestalt theory: what is it?
2. What is Gestalt therapy?
3. Gestalt Laws

Gestalt therapy can be related to the therapy of humanistic psychology. This has as its main element the subjective experiences of the individual who attends therapy, thus moving away from behaviorism or psychoanalysis, the theories that dominated psychology at the beginning of the twentieth century.

To understand what is gestalt theory, its therapy and main lawsWe must bear in mind that its objective is not to analyze the negative aspects of the person but quite the opposite: it seeks self-knowledge and improvement through personal growth. It conceives people as beings capable of growing, knowing and developing freely.

Meaning of the word Gestalt

The word Gestalt has its origin in the German language and, although it does not have an exact translation, we understand it as "shape"or"setting". To better understand this concept, we are going to give an example related to one of the Gestalt laws: the whole is more than the union of the elements.

This word took on a meaning when some great thinkers like Kurt Koffka and Max Wertheimer realized that perception is organized and that we perceive better the more complex training and organizations but symmetrical. These principles were evolving until they were applied to the human mind thanks to therapists such as Fritz Perls. ^[1] whose studies were based on applying Gestalt principles to person-centered therapies.

According to Gestalt theory, as forms are not conceived either as an absolute totality or as a sum of parts or fragments, human life does not work that way either. Therefore, from the Gestalt Approach (EG) individual perceptions, subjective beliefs and everything that surrounds the person and can affect their body and mind are worked on. Even family dynamics and factors that, at first glance seem to be unrelated to the person (an idea from which the systemic therapy Y the family constellations)

In summary, Fritz Perls Gestalt psychotherapy conceives the human being as a global concept that must be studied in its entirety and not through the analysis of only its parts.

Techniques and principles of Gestalt psychotherapy

• The main purpose of this therapy is personal growth. Each individual has their own maturational path and the goal is to analyze everything that surrounds us to improve in all possible areas.
• During this journey of self-knowledge, it is important to face adversity through acceptance and awareness.
• The here and now: One of the most important principles in Gestalt psychotherapy is the realization that "now" is the only experience we can control. Our notions of the past or the future only matter in the present tense and this is where we must focus our attention.
• Another of the most important principles on which Gestalt psychotherapy is based is in a analysis at the "macro" level of the individual. The person is conditioned by his experiences and external dynamics in the same way that his thoughts and cognitions also influence the psychological state of the individual. As discussed earlier in this article, we must remember that "the whole is more than the sum of the parts"

Today, these therapies are still practiced despite the hegemony of cognitive-behavioral therapies. We can find Gestalt institutes and training schools that offer both therapies and masters to train professionals dedicated to practicing this type of psychology.

Apart from Gestalt psychotherapyThis same theory can also be applied to perceptual laws. These laws act on the way we conceive the physical forms of our environment. The main laws of Gestalt are:

• Proximity law: those elements that are close to each other tend to be perceived as a single unit.
• Law of good form: Also known as the law of pregnancy, this principle holds that all the elements that are part of the same perceptual field are perceived as a unit. (Example: when we see a painting, we first perceive the set of stimuli as a single unit, we must focus our attention to analyze the elements that make up the painting).
• Equality or similarity law: those stimuli that are similar in composition, color, size or shape tend to be perceived as members of the same group.
• Closing law: Incomplete elements can be recognized if sufficient figures are available (example: an unclosed triangle is still perceived as a triangle)
• Figure-ground law: according to this law, a figure is perceived before its background itself.

Next, to better understand what is Gestalt theory: therapy and main laws, we suggest you analyze the following image: what do you see?

This illustration is a clear example of the figure-ground lawBy paying attention to both sides, the white color is perceived as a background. Instead, when paying attention to the shape of the glass, we perceive that the black faces are the background.

Gestalt laws are applied in the creation of advertising posters, in painting and in the cinema with the aim of creating certain perceptions to the viewer.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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1. Perls, Fritz. "Gestalt therapy." Astrolabe, Rome (1980).