While attending a musical concert, you find you can clearly hear one particular instrument through the others as the song goes on, even though that instrument is not very loud. To a Gestalt psychologist, the instrument represents the ________, and the rest of the instruments and song are the ________.
A) figure; ground
B) object; ground
C) object; subject
D) pattern; whole

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Gestalt psychology, we perceive scenes as consisting of a figure, which stands out from the background or ground. In this scenario, the instrument that is clearly heard represents the figure, and the rest of the instruments and song represent the ground. Therefore, choice A (figure; ground) is the best answer.

While Attending a Musical Concert, You Find You Can Clearly