Question

We perceive a person’s face as a whole, and not as a collection of eyes, nose, mouth, etc. A face therefore is an example of:

• A. Schema
• B. Cognition
• C. Heuristics
• D. Gestalt

Hint:

Gestalt principles like figure-ground, proximity, and closure are crucial in understanding perception and are widely applied in fields like design and art.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Gestalt psychology emphasizes that the human mind perceives objects as whole structures rather than just the sum of individual parts. For example:

• Example: When looking at a face, we perceive it as a unified entity, not as separate eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
• Principles: Gestalt principles like closure, proximity, and similarity explain how we organize visual information into meaningful patterns.

Additional related terms:

• Schema: Refers to mental frameworks based on prior knowledge.
• Cognition: A broader term encompassing mental processes like thinking and memory.
• Heuristics: Mental shortcuts or rules of thumb used for decision-making.