Difference between revisions of "Gestalt"
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| − | + | | [[German]]: ''[[Gestalts|Gestalt]]'' | |
| + | |} | ||
| − | + | ==Definition== | |
| + | ''[[Gestalt]]'' is a [[German]] [[word]] [[meaning]] an organized pattern or [[whole]] which has properties [[other]] than those of its components in [[isolation]]. | ||
| − | + | The experimental study of [[gestalt]]s began in 1910 with the study of certain phenomena of [[perception]], and led to a [[school]] of [[thought]] known as "[[gestalt]] [[psychology]]" which was based on a holistic [[concept]] of [[mind]] and [[body]] and which stressed the [[psychological]] importance of [[body]] presentation. | |
| − | + | These [[ideas]] formed the basis of [[Gestalt]] [[therapy]] as developed by [[Paul]] Goodman, Fritz Perls and Ralph Hefferline. | |
| − | + | ==Jacques Lacan== | |
| + | When [[Lacan]] refers to the [[gestalt]], he refers specifically to one kind of oganized pattern, namely the [[visual]] [[image]] of [[another]] member of the same [[species]], which is perceived as a [[unified]] [[whole]]. | ||
| − | + | Such an [[image]] is a [[gestalt]] because it has an effect which none of its component parts have in isolation; this effect is to act as a "releasing [[mechanism]]" ([[French]]: ''déclencheur'') which triggers certain [[instinct]]ual responses, such as [[reproductive]] [[behavior]].<ref>{{S1}} p. 121f</ref> | |
| − | + | ==Animals== | |
| + | In other [[words]], when an [[animal]] perceives a [[unified]] [[image]] of another member of its species, it responds in certan [[instinct]]ual ways. | ||
| − | + | [[Lacan]] gives many examples from [[ethology]] of such [[instinct]]ual responses to [[images]], but his main interest is in the way the [[gestalt]] functions in [[human]] beings. | |
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| − | + | ==Human Beings== | |
| + | For [[human]]s the [[body]] [[image]] is also a [[gestalt]] which produces [[instinct]]ual responses, especially [[sexual]] ones, but the [[power]] of the [[image]] is also more than merely [[instinct]]ual; it constitutes the essential captivating [[power]] of the [[specular image]] (see [[captation]]). | ||
| − | + | ==Fragmented Body== | |
| + | It is by [[identifying]] with the [[unified]] [[gestalt]] of the [[body]] [[image]] that the [[ego]] is constantly threatened by [[fear]]s of [[fragmented body|disintegration]], which [[manifest]] themselves in [[image]]s of the [[fragmented body]]; these [[image]]s [[represent]] the opposite of the [[unified]] [[gestalt]] of the [[body]] [[image]]. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | {{See}} | ||
| + | * [[Ego]] | ||
| + | * [[Fragmented body]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Identification]] | ||
| + | * [[Instinct]] | ||
| + | || | ||
| + | * [[Mirror stage]] | ||
| + | * [[Specular image]] | ||
| + | {{Also}} | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
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| − | + | <references/> | |
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| − | + | [[Category:Freudian psychology]] | |
| + | [[Category:Psychoanalysis]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Language]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Development]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Dictionary]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Concepts]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Terms]] | ||
| + | {{OK}} | ||
| − | + | __NOTOC__ | |
Latest revision as of 08:34, 24 May 2019
| German: Gestalt |
Definition
Gestalt is a German word meaning an organized pattern or whole which has properties other than those of its components in isolation.
The experimental study of gestalts began in 1910 with the study of certain phenomena of perception, and led to a school of thought known as "gestalt psychology" which was based on a holistic concept of mind and body and which stressed the psychological importance of body presentation.
These ideas formed the basis of Gestalt therapy as developed by Paul Goodman, Fritz Perls and Ralph Hefferline.
Jacques Lacan
When Lacan refers to the gestalt, he refers specifically to one kind of oganized pattern, namely the visual image of another member of the same species, which is perceived as a unified whole.
Such an image is a gestalt because it has an effect which none of its component parts have in isolation; this effect is to act as a "releasing mechanism" (French: déclencheur) which triggers certain instinctual responses, such as reproductive behavior.[1]
Animals
In other words, when an animal perceives a unified image of another member of its species, it responds in certan instinctual ways.
Lacan gives many examples from ethology of such instinctual responses to images, but his main interest is in the way the gestalt functions in human beings.
Human Beings
For humans the body image is also a gestalt which produces instinctual responses, especially sexual ones, but the power of the image is also more than merely instinctual; it constitutes the essential captivating power of the specular image (see captation).
Fragmented Body
It is by identifying with the unified gestalt of the body image that the ego is constantly threatened by fears of disintegration, which manifest themselves in images of the fragmented body; these images represent the opposite of the unified gestalt of the body image.
See also
References
- ↑ Lacan, Jacques. The Seminar. Book I. Freud's Papers on Technique, 1953-54. Trans. John Forrester. New York: Nortion; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988. p. 121f
