Understanding Gestalt Laws of Perception

1. Optic Flow Objects moving away from us indicate we are moving in the opposite direction Objects moving towards us indicate we are moving forwards

2. Closure • We see things as complete wholes rather than segmented parts • Continuation • We interpret things to look like smooth continuities rather than abrupt changes • E.g. Kanizsa triangle • We perceive a triangle rather than 3 ‘pacman’ shapes • Even though there is no triangle! • Proximity • Elements placed together are perceived to be part of the same object rather than separate ones • i.e. we see columns of stars rather than just separate stars placed near each other • Similarity • Objects that look the same are perceived as being together • ‘birds of a feather flock together’ • The spots which look similar are grouped and this, combined with proximity makes us see lines of spots rather than a group of different coloured spots Gestalt Laws of Perception

3. Closure • We see things as complete wholes rather than segmented parts • Continuation • We interpret things to look like smooth continuities rather than abrupt changes • E.g. Kanizsa triangle

4. Proximity • Elements placed together are perceived to be part of the same object rather than separate ones • Similarity • Objects that look the same are perceived as being together • (‘birds of a feather flock together’)