What principle involves viewing nearby objects as a single group?

The principle that involves viewing nearby objects as a single group is known as Proximity. This principle, derived from Gestalt psychology, suggests that elements that are close to each other in space are perceived as part of a collective whole rather than as separate entities. For instance, if a number of dots are arranged in clusters, we naturally perceive these clusters as groups rather than individual dots. Our mind tends to organize visual elements based on their spatial relationships, leading to this grouping effect.

In contrast, while the other principles have their own unique roles in perception, they do not specifically focus on the aspect of spatial closeness leading to grouping. Closure pertains to the tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete, Similarity relates to grouping based on shared characteristics, and Continuity involves the perception of smoothly flowing lines or patterns. Each of these concepts plays a crucial role in how we interpret visual information but does not directly address the grouping of nearby objects as Proximity does.