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Why did their precursors fail and the Gestalt psychologists succeed?
Reflections on theories and theorists
pp. 13-20
Abstract
Those who experienced the first two and a half decades of the Gestalt movement and followed its various developments will remember the excitement and enthusiasm it engendered. More than any other movement in experimental psychology it appeared like a bright meteor lighting up the otherwise dim sky of perceptual theory. In a paper prepared for delivery before the APA but which was not read because of his death, Köhler2 referred to the excitement and enthusiasm among the early Gestalt group, and this spirit was certainly communicated to many of us before we met and heard him and Wertheimer, Koffka, and Lewin in person. Yet ist was not an altogether easy point of view for non-Germans to unterstand, because it was deeply rooted in German tradition, or rather traditions.
Publication details
Published in:
Ertel Suitbert, Kemmler Lilly, Stadler Michael (1975) Gestalttheorie in der Modernen Psychologie: Wolfgang Metzger zum 75. Geburtstag. Heidelberg, Steinkopff.
Pages: 13-20
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-72312-4_3
Full citation:
Helson Harry (1975) „Why did their precursors fail and the Gestalt psychologists succeed?: Reflections on theories and theorists“, In: S. Ertel, L. Kemmler & M. Stadler (eds.), Gestalttheorie in der Modernen Psychologie, Heidelberg, Steinkopff, 13–20.