In Gestalt psychology, what is the primary focus when studying perception and cognition?

• A. How people perceive organized wholes or patterns, emphasizing that the whole is different from the sum of its parts
• B. How mental processes can be understood by breaking them down into basic sensations and elements
• C. How unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences determine adult personality
• D. How behavior is shaped primarily through reinforcement and punishment over time

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Gestalt psychology is a theoretical approach that emphasizes perception and cognition as holistic processes rather than as a collection of separate parts.
2. Recognize that the primary focus of Gestalt psychology is on how people perceive organized wholes or patterns, rather than isolated elements.
3. Recall the Gestalt principle that 'the whole is different from the sum of its parts,' meaning that our minds tend to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
4. Compare this focus with other psychological perspectives, such as structuralism (which breaks down mental processes into basic sensations), psychoanalysis (which emphasizes unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences), and behaviorism (which focuses on reinforcement and punishment).
5. Conclude that the correct answer highlights the Gestalt emphasis on organized wholes and patterns in perception and cognition.