Which principle of perception is central to Gestalt psychology?

• A. Perception is based solely on learned associations
• B. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
• C. Memory is stored in discrete units
• D. Behavior is determined by reinforcement and punishment

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Gestalt psychology focuses on how people naturally organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes when certain principles are applied.
2. Recognize that the key principle in Gestalt psychology is that perception is not just about individual components but about the overall structure or pattern formed by these components.
3. Recall the famous Gestalt phrase: 'The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,' which means that our perception interprets entire patterns or configurations, not just isolated elements.
4. Compare this principle to the other options: learned associations, discrete memory units, and behavior shaped by reinforcement, which belong to other psychological theories or areas.
5. Conclude that the central principle of perception in Gestalt psychology is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.