History of Problem Solving … Gestalt

Psychology 523

January 26th, 2006

Recap Associationism

Contiguity, Similarity, Repetition Faculty Psychology

Powers of the mind Structuralism

Used introspection technique; focused on elements of sensation and perception

Wurzburg School Applied introspection to problem solving tasks

Functionalism Consciousness organizes thought; mediates stimulus

and action; focus on process

Thorndike’s Connectionism

Learning results from associations formed between stimulus and response (neural connections)

Trial and error learning Cat puzzle box

S-R Theory Law of effect Law of readiness Law of exercise

Identical Elements of Transfer

(1874-1948)

Examination of ISMS

Associationism Faculty Psychology Structuralism Act Psychology Functionalism Behaviorism Gestalt Theory

Behaviorism John B. Watson

Focused on ‘human behavior’ No point to study inaccessible events of the mind Instead must focus on S-R Thinking is physical (muscular activities of the vocal chords)

Clark Hull S-O-R

O -> drive, incentives, inhibitors,prior training, and habit family heirarchies

B.F. Skinner Operant conditioning

John B.Watson(1878-1958)

(1904-1990)

(1884-1952)

Classic Issues in Problem Solving

Problem solver has a goal but lacks a clear solution. How is an effective response acquired?

Issues: learning, past experience Trial and error (Thorndike) Insight (Yerkes; Kohler) Problem solving set (Maier; Luchins & Luchins) Transfer of principles (Thorndike vs. Katona; Wertheimer)

Gestalt Psychology Wolfgang Kohler, Kurt Koffka, and Max Wertheimer Gestalt: ‘organized whole’ ‘configuration’

Protest against structuralism Psychological experience as emergent dynamics

Laws of organization (field theory) Perception and problem solving

Situations have forces working on them Problem: forces are unbalanced Restructuring is a change in the situation an

effort to balance the forces

(1880-1943)

(1887-1967)

(1886-1941)

Principles of Visual Organization

Figure-ground

Principles of Visual Organization

Proximity

Principles of Visual Organization

Similarity

Principles of Visual Organization

Good continuity

Principles of Visual Organization

Closure

Perceptual Restructuring

Principles for Problem Solving(based on Ohlsson, 1984)

Central Principles

A. Every situation embodies a structure

B. A situation can be subject to forces

C. Restructuring changes relations

Auxiliary

D. Problems have gaps /stresses

E. Restructuring moves towards better structure

Principles for Problem Solving

When does restructuring occur? F. Unbalanced forces G. More likely if the situation is well analyzed H. More likely if the goal is well analyzed I. More likely if the after trying multiple times K. Restructuring is involuntary

L.- N. Behavioral predictions

Analysis of an example (nine-dot problem)

Luchins & Luchins

(1922-2002)