Review of The psychology of Gestalt

Abstract

Reviews the book, The Psychology of Gestalt by Harry Helson. This monograph comprises the author's four papers on Gestalttheorie which appeared originally in the American Journal of Psychology , volume 36 [(see record 1927-01244-001 ) and (see record 1927-01245-001 )] and volume 37: [(see record 1927-00004-001 ) and (see record 1927-00513-001 )]. The first three papers deal with the problem, method and some experimental results abstracted from the works of the leading exponents of the theory. In the last paper Helson presents his own opinions in a critical review of the principles of Gestalt. The reviewer is convinced that this monograph is deserving of a wide and critical reading, particularly by those who are now struggling in the winter of their psychological discontent with both traditional and current systems. Helson's papers present the best exposition to date in the English, doubtless, of the Standpunkte of the Gestaltists. However it is questionable whether there is as general agreement among the exponents of this view as the reader is likely to infer. In addition to his exposition of Gestalt the author is impelled to express his dissatisfaction, in almost every section of the monograph, with the systems which he designates as associationism, introspectionism and behaviorism. The problem of Gestalt psychology as Helson envisages it is "to steer between the blind mechanism of the frequency and conditioned reflex theories and the vitalism of Bergson, Driesch and others" (p. 44). Factually this is not a problem at all, but an aspect of method. Its faults are small compared to its contribution. While Gestalt psychology doubtless has much of value for American Psychology yet the rule of caveat lector is a good one to follow. Gestalt phenomenology is not psychology. The merits or defects of the system will "come out in the wash" of future experimentation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)