Which psychologist is known for emphasizing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts?

The psychologist associated with the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts is Max Wertheimer. This principle is foundational in Gestalt psychology, which Wertheimer helped to establish. Gestalt psychology focuses on understanding how people perceive entire structures or configurations rather than merely analyzing individual components or elements in isolation. This perspective highlights the importance of context and relationships among elements in perception and cognition.

Wertheimer’s emphasis on holistic processing signifies that when individuals observe a scene or an object, they tend to perceive it as a whole first, rather than as a collection of individual parts. This fundamentally challenges reductionist approaches that break down experiences into smaller fragments for analysis. Wertheimer's work laid the groundwork for understanding perception and problem-solving in a broader context, influencing various fields, including psychology, design, and education.