The German word Gestalt means essence or shape of an entity's complete form. This theory deals with the perception of reality as a whole rather than sum of elements. The Gestalt effect is the form-generating ability of our senses to recognize forms and figures rather than collection of lines and curves.
The whole is greater than the sum of parts.
Principle of totality: the conscious experience must be considered by taking into account all the physical and mental aspects of the individual simultaneously.
We order our experience in a manner that is regular, orderly, symmetric and simple.
Gestalt laws:
Law of closure - the mind experiences elements it does not see in order to complete a regular figure.
Law of similarity - the mind groups similar elements into collective entities or totalities.
Law of proximity - spatial or temporal proximity of elements may induce the mind to perceive a collective or totality.
Law of symmetry - symmetrical images are perceived collectively even in spite of distance.
Law of continuity - the mind continues visual, auditory and kinetic patterns.
Law of common fate - elements with the same moving direction are perceived as a collective or unit.