#Continuity perception definition full

Our tendency is to see what is small and ignore the large. Small objects will be favored as figures against a background of large objects. When we see our mind is constantly working out what is figure and what is background. In the picture below, the figure in the middle will be interpreted as two curved lines, as shown in the figure on the left, rather than two lines that each take a sharp turn, as on the right. Our mind will favor interpretations that rely on smooth continuity over interpretations that rely on abrupt changes of direction. Related to the idea of closure is the Gestalt principle of continuity. Furthermore, our mind favors interpretations that produced whole, closed objects over open, broken objects. Where a collection of individual elements (like dots) can be connected together to form a shape (such as a line) our mind will tend to do this. Where there are discontinuities it fills them in. Using this principle is one way to create a focal point.

In the picture below the symmetrical parts of the house stand out from the asymmetrical house. There is something innate in us that favors these forms. Perhaps this helps to explain the classicists love of symmetry in architecture. Our mind pulls these out from an asymmetrical background. Objects that are symmetrical are favored as figures. They then get categorized together into a group that we might call “those items inside the larger shape”. The exception maybe where the overlapping objects seems to create a new, complex shape, which may end up in its own, unique category.įinally, objects may be linked by proximity when they are subsumed into a larger shape. If items touch, even if dissimilar in size and shape, a relationship seems to exist between the objects.Īn even stronger relationship exists when there is overlap. In a collection of objects we often identify sub-groupings of objects that are close together. Items that are close seem like they should be related. There are essentially four levels to the Gestalt principle of proximity: Close, Touch, Overlap and Combined. We also consider an object’s spatial relationship. In many cases our grouping activity is complicated by having multiple ways in which items can be grouped. We group large objects together, or at least consider the possibility that they go together.

#Continuity perception definition full

In box full of silver bolts we would easily distinguish the one bolt that was gold. We group circles with circles, and squares with squares. But there are different ways in which things might look alike. The eye can easily pick out items that look alike and the mind will group them together. Much of what we do with the other concepts, like grouping objects, is our mind working out the simplest explanation for the data presented. We tend to try to reduce complexity to its simplest form or to its simplest parts. This principle helps explain some of the others. The German psychologists who developed Gestalt principles called this principle “Pragnänz”. Surroundedness is the idea that surrounding shapes tend to be interpreted as background to the shapes that they surround.Common fate says that objects that appear to be moving in the same direction are grouped together.Smallness means that we favor interpreting small objects as figures.Continuity is a filling in of details in order to arrive at the simplest interpretation.Closure relates to the tendency of the eye to close an opening, or to complete the broken line.Symmetry is the tendency to view symmetrical objects as figures against an asymmetrical background.Proximity relates to their relative position and how we group them.Similarity relates to what things look like and how that effects how we group them.Simplicity says that we favor the simplest interpretation.