The Gestalt law of common direction states that the human brain tends to group visual elements that appear to move in the same direction. An example would be a group of arrows pointing in the same direction. In any area of daily life it is common to observe objects or figures in a way other than what they are. The mind crosses unthinkable limits to understand what it does not know, which can generate amazing results. How many times has a person seen an advertisement that highlighted large objects that could be divided? There is a theoretical branch of psychology that is responsible for the study of the perception and interpretation that human beings make of the figures that they can see.
In this Psychology-Online article we explain what is the Gestalt law of common direction and examples.
What is the Gestalt law of common direction?
The Law of Common Management is one of the fundamental principles of Gestalt psychology based on how the human brain organizes the information it receives from the world around it.
This law establishes that, when several visual elements are presented, the human brain tends to organize all the parts that make up the same image in such a way that it appears a unified figure in the same direction general. This allows for a faster and more coherent view of the world around us.
For example, if we see several arrows in different directions, the human brain will tend to group them into groups of arrows that point in the same direction. This law is based on the idea that the human brain always tries to look for patterns and meanings in the visual elements it perceives to organize information in a coherent and organized way.
How the Gestalt law of common direction is used
For the law of common direction to be applied to various areas, it is necessary to carry out a series of procedures that are linked to the perception of human beings. Here we show you how the Gestalt law of common direction is used:
- Initial perception: corresponds to the first moment in which an image containing different elements is displayed. In this first stage, the brain does not distinguish movements in relation to the direction of the figures that appear.
- Grouping and directionality: after having contemplated the initial image that may present dispersed and disconnected formats, a second moment arises linked to grouping and directionality. Here, the mind groups the various figures and locates the direction in which they could be directed to form a total and unified image.
- Comprehension: When the mind can perceive and group each part that makes up the same image, it is understood by giving it a meaning. It should be noted that the context under which a person has been raised significantly affects the perception that he or she could make. In other words, human beings can understand figures that they have seen before and be able to relate to what they have perceived.
If you want to know more Gestalt laws, we will explain them to you in the following article.
Examples of the Gestalt law of common direction
Although all this information seems difficult to understand because it involves mental processes of abstraction, it is possible to put these concepts into practice. Throughout everyday life, you can find some situations in which these ideas are implemented.
In the next items, we will develop some examples of the Gestalt law of common direction:
Graphic design
In this area, it is common to use these concepts to make a visual impression on viewers of figures through the use of specific colors and shapes. According to research, it has been shown that interest in viewing images can increase if figures that share the same direction are projected because the brain works to unify them.
For example, we can find several triangles that point towards the sides within a figure that correspond to images similar to each other that denote common features.
Brand logos
On the other hand, advertising represents another environment in which special emphasis is placed on the Gestalt principle of common direction. In this way, it is possible to observe formats corresponding to companies that share the same address in order to attract the audience.
For example, a car brand could design an image that features several cars that are facing left or right for a certain purpose.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- López Ortiz, RH (2016). Analysis of the Gestalt laws and their application in teaching materials for early education children II. Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Esmeraldas headquarters. Faculty of Administrative and Accounting Sciences. School of Graphic Design.
- Oviedo, G. (2004). The definition of the concept of perception in psychology based on Gestalt theory. Magazine of Social Studies, 18 (1), 89-96.