Gestalt Psychology

This week's reading by Wren and Wren (2003) explores theories of learning and the impact that they have had on educators and education.  There was one section in this reading that jumped out at me:

"About the time that behaviorism was becoming the dominant theory of learning in the United States, three German psychologists, Max Wetheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler, were arguing that learning involved "emergent" properties that are not reducible to its elements.  Like the early rationalist philosophers, these theorists argued that novel problems cannot be solved simply by applying existing knowledge or behaviour patterns to new situations, no can the way data are organized be explained entirely in terms of the data themselves.  Instead, they argued, learning takes place thanks to the learner's understanding of the entire situation."  (p. 248)

Yes!  This is exactly what I have been thinking about behaviourism for so long (though said in a much more academic way).  While it is true that you can use elements of behaviourism to encourage key behaviours, behaviourism does not explain ingenuity of thought.  Behaviourism cannot explain innovation.  We do not simply act in a certain way because we are conditioned to do so.  Now, I have a name for a theory of learning that I can align myself with, Gestalt Psychology. 

I want to explore this theory of learning and behaviour further.  It is interesting to me that this theory hearkens back to the work of Aristotle and Plato, that we are still wrestling with the how of learning.  How can higher level thinking be explained?  When reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica online about Gestalt Psychology (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/232098/Gestalt-psychology), it did not surprise me to read, "Gestalt psychology was in part an attempt to add a humanistic dimension to what was considered a sterile approach to the scientific study of mental life."(retrieved May 14, 2014).  Being able to relate to this approach continues my own personal theme of discovery of humanism and education.  It confirms that I have strong beliefs in this regard.  I wish to continue to explore different themes of humanism, learning and education as I proceed with my own academic work.