Nálægðarlögmálið

Nálægðarlögmálið, also known as the Law of Proximity, is a principle in Gestalt psychology that describes how individuals perceive objects that are close to each other as forming a group. This principle suggests that elements that are spatially near one another are more likely to be perceived as belonging together than elements that are farther apart. The closer two or more objects are, the stronger the tendency to perceive them as a unified whole.

This perceptual grouping can influence how we interpret visual information, such as in graphic design, user interface layouts, and even in understanding social relationships. For example, in typography, words that are spaced closely together are read as distinct words, while words with larger gaps are perceived as separate entities. In a user interface, buttons or links that are grouped closely are understood to perform related functions. The Law of Proximity helps to reduce cognitive load by allowing us to quickly organize and make sense of complex visual fields. It is one of several Gestalt principles that explain how the human brain organizes sensory input into meaningful perceptions.