Definition extracted with permission from Simon, Fritz, et al, Family Process, Inc.: Language of Family Therapy: A Systemic Vocabulary and Source Book (Family Process Press Series)
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gestalt theory
Wolfgang Köhler defined a "gestalt" as a unit or whole that stands out against its environment or background. The distinguishable elements of a gestalt are interdependent and, in their unified context, take on properties that cannot be ascribed to any single element but only to the configuration of the gestalt as a whole. This definition, which lays the foundation for gestalt theory and psychology, is almost identical to the concepts of system and structure in family therapy.