Gestalt Research on Problem-Solving and Today’s Gestalt

This article will focus on two pioneering scientific works in problem-solving, or per Gestalt theory, “productive thinking”. One of them is Köhler’s research on goal-directed tool use and overcoming obstacles in chimpanzees, the other is Duncker’s studies on problem-solving using a “think aloud” technique. In both Köhler’s and Duncker’s work, productive thinking is linked to a restructuring behavior, such as tearing off a thin, long branch from a tree to serve as a stick or removing various objects in a matchbox to transform it from a container to a base on which to mount a candle. In the final section, I will look at how today’s research trends might and should connect to Gestalt theory. In conclusion, just as in memory, the main tenets of Gestalt theory of figure-ground segregation and grouping play a critical role also in thinking. Thus, Gestalt theory seems to be able to come up with a common way of understanding perception, memory, as well as thinking. To my knowledge there is no other single theory within cognitive psychology that has such broad an explanatory power. This in itself is one more reason why Gestalt theory deserves crucial attention across all of cognition, even all of psychology and possibly even beyond.