Volfgang Kohler German psychologist, one of the founders of Gestalt psychology Date of Birth: 21.01.1887 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Wolfgang Kohler
2. Early Life and Education
3. The Tenerife Years
4. Contributions to Gestalt Psychology
5. Emigration to the United States

Biography of Wolfgang Kohler

Wolfgang Kohler (January 21, 1887 – June 11, 1967) was a German psychologist and one of the founders of Gestalt psychology.

Early Life and Education

Wolfgang Kohler was born on January 21, 1887, in Reval, Estonia (then part of the Russian Empire). He obtained his doctorate in physics from the University of Berlin in 1909. However, he soon realized his passion for psychology and decided to pursue further studies in the field.

The Tenerife Years

In the 1910s, Kohler conducted groundbreaking research at an experimental station on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. His main focus was on the problem of thinking in anthropoid apes. Through his experiments, Kohler demonstrated that anthropoid apes, and even less developed animals, engage in thinking that is not simply based on trial and error, as previously believed in behaviorism. Instead, he showed that their thinking is based on mental representation of problem-solving steps. Kohler proposed that the process of forming a holistic structure, or a "good Gestalt," in the animal's visual field lies at the core of such problem-solving.

Contributions to Gestalt Psychology

Kohler's research on anthropoid apes laid the foundation for Gestalt psychology. He formulated the idea that Gestalts, or perceptual wholes, are not only formed in consciousness but also at the physiological and physical levels. This groundbreaking perspective allowed him to align with the supporters of the concept of anti-localizationism in solving psychophysical problems.

Emigration to the United States

In 1935, Kohler emigrated to the United States due to the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany. He continued his research on the electro-physiological basis of Gestalt formation. Kohler's work in the United States further enriched the field of psychology and solidified his reputation as one of the pioneers of Gestalt psychology.

Wolfgang Kohler passed away on June 11, 1967, leaving behind a significant legacy in the field of psychology. His contributions to Gestalt psychology and his understanding of the cognitive processes in animals have had a lasting impact on the study of perception and problem-solving.