PSYC 312 Lecture Notes - Kurt Lewin, Leadership Studies, Kurt Koffka
Document Summary
German protest to wundt"s principles roots in kant, mach, ehrenfels, stumpf - phenomenology, j. s. Nazi (1933) jewish professors dismissed, academics fled persecution/emigrated to. U. s. , lack of funds, theories published only if agreed with political authority. Gestalt goal: investigate organization of mental activity, exact nature of person- environment interactions eventually called for intellectual revolution, although not readily accepted in mainstream psych some personal conflicts resulted. Led to influence on teaching/learning practices, humanistic & cognitive psych study Gestalt: no one english word = configuration, form, holistic, structure, pattern, shape, whole . K hler"s insight using pure observation, examined problem-solving, learning abilities in chimps in cages, try to obtain food; given objects, challenges able to connect perceptions, find new relationships, restructure the psychological environment. Not a gradual accumulation of associations once have an insight solution, can solve similar problems = positive transfer must follow the ability to perceive the possible relationships and parts within the problem.
