History And Systems Test 3 Ch 14

Front 1

phi phenomenon

Back 1

Max Wertheimer -a perception of apparent movement when the elements of the experience are, in fact, stationary. Proposed that our perceptions are different than the sensations that comprise them

Front 2

field theory

Back 2

brain contains structural fields of electrochemical forces
our experiences result from the interaction of the sensory data in our field.

Front 3

isomorphism

Back 3

The force fields in the brain transform incoming sensory data and that is the transformed data that we experience consciously.
Isomorphism comes from the Greek meaning “similar shape.”
The patterns of brain activity and the patterns of conscious experience are structurally equivalent.

Front 4

top-down

Back 4

For Gestalt psychology, organized brain activity dominates our perception, not the stimuli that enter into that activity.
Therefore, the whole is more important than the parts, thus reversing one of psychology’s oldest traditions.
Analysis proceeded from the top to the bottom instead of from the bottom to the top, in other words analysis proceeded from the whole to the parts.

Front 5

Pragnanz

Back 5

"as good as conditions allow"
The psychological organization will always be as good as conditions allow because fields of brain activity will always distribute themselves in the simplest way possible under the prevailing conditions

Front 6

perceptual constancy

Back 6

The way we respond to objects as if they are the same, even though the actual stimulation our senses receive may vary greatly.
This phenomenon is not a function of sensation plus learning but is a function of the ongoing brain activity and the fields’ activity.

Front 7

figure-ground

Back 7

The perceptual field can be divided into two parts, the figure and the ground. The figure is clear and unified and is the object of attention, the ground is diffuse and consists of everything that is not being attended to. The division creates a figure-ground relationship and what is the figure and what is the ground can be changed by shifting one’s attention.

Front 8

proximity

Back 8

gestalten perception. Stimuli, which are close together, tend to be grouped together as a perceptual unit.

Front 9

closure

Back 9

gestalten perception. Incomplete figures in the physical world are perceived as complete ones. For example, if we have figures with gaps in them we fill in the gaps to make a whole.

Front 10

Insight Learning (essay)

Back 10

If a problem is presented to an organism along with whatever is necessary to solve the problem, insight learning will typically occur.
Insight learning has basically four characteristics:
1) The transition from no solution to solution is sudden and complete
2) Performance based on the insightful solution is usually smooth and free of errors
3) A solution gained by insight is retained for a considerable length of time
4) A principle gained by insight is easily applied to other problems.

Front 11

ziegarnik effect

Back 11

Lewin's Field Theory. The tendency to remember uncompleted tasks better than completed tasks.