Pronunciation: [ɡəʃtˈɑːlt] (IPA) 
Gestalt is a German borrowed word that refers to a unified whole or configuration. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word is ɡəˈʃtalt. The ‘ɡ’ sound is pronounced as in ‘goat’ and ‘ə’ represents the schwa sound found in unstressed syllables. The combination of ‘sh’ and ‘t’ sounds are represented by ‘ʃt’. Therefore, the phonetic transcription of gestalt is a helpful tool for understanding the correct spelling of this word.
Gestalt is a German term that originates from psychology and refers to the concept of an organized whole or a coherent pattern. It is derived from the German word "gestalten," which means "to shape" or "to form." In psychology, gestalt theory emphasizes the idea that individuals perceive objects and experiences as integrated wholes rather than isolated parts. It suggests that the mind organizes individual sensory stimuli into meaningful and complete perceptual experiences.
In the field of perception, the theory of gestalt emphasizes that when people encounter sensory stimuli, they tend to perceive the overall configuration or structure first, rather than the individual components. This perception is influenced by various factors, such as proximity, similarity, closure, and continuity. Additionally, gestalt psychology emphasizes the subjective aspect of perception, acknowledging that each individual may interpret and organize stimuli in a slightly different manner.
Beyond psychology, the term gestalt is also used in other fields. In art and design, gestalt principles are applied to create aesthetically pleasing compositions by considering the balance, harmony, and organization of visual elements. In philosophy, gestalt is often associated with holistic thinking and the notion that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
Overall, gestalt represents the idea of perceiving and understanding phenomena as unified wholes rather than isolated fragments, highlighting the significance of the organization and structure in our perceptual experiences.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "gestalt" is derived from the German language. It comes from the German noun "Gestalt", which means "shape", "figure", or "form". The term was first introduced by the German philosopher Christian von Ehrenfels in the late 19th century. He used the word to refer to the concept of an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts. The term gained popularity in psychology and the field of perception, particularly through the work of Gestalt psychologists such as Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka in the early 20th century. Today, "gestalt" is commonly used to describe the theory or principle that highlights the importance of the holistic perception of patterns and configurations.
