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For Kurt Lewin behaviour was determined by totality of an individual’s situation. In his field theory, a ‘field’ is defined as ‘the totality of coexisting facts which are conceived of as mutually interdependent’ (Lewin 1951: 240). Individuals were seen to behave differently according to the way in which tensions between perceptions of the self and of the environment were worked through. The whole psychological field, or ‘lifespace’, within which people acted had to be viewed, in order to understand behaviour. Within this individuals and groups could be seen in topological terms (using map-like representations). Individuals participate in a series of life spaces (such as the family, work, school and church), and these were constructed under the influence of various force vectors (Lewin 1952). Hall and Lindzey (1978: 386) summarize the central features of Kurt Lewin’s field theory as follows:
Analysis begins with the situation as a whole from which are differentiated the component parts, and The concrete person in a concrete situation can represented mathematically. Kurt Lewin also looked to the power of underlying forces (needs) to determine behaviour and, hence, expressed ‘a preference for psychological as opposed to physical or physiological descriptions of the field’ (op. cit.). In this we can see how Kurt Lewin drew together insights from topology (e.g. lifespace), psychology (need, aspiration etc.), and sociology (e.g. force fields – motives clearly being dependent on group pressures). As Allport in his foreword to Resolving Social Conflict (Lewin 1948: ix) put it, these three aspects of his thought were not separable. ‘All of his concepts, whatever root-metaphor they employ, comprise a single well-integrated system’. It was this, in significant part, which gave his work its peculiar power. |
Behaviour is a function of the field that exists at the time
the behaviour occurs,From Jones (n.d.):
The field theory may seem obvious to us now, but most early psychologist did not believe in behaviorism. Many psychologists at the time believed in the psychoanalytic theory that held human motives to be blind pushes from within. Lewin thought of motives as goal- directed forces. He believed "that our behavior is purposeful; we live in a psychological reality or life space that includes not only those parts of our physical and social environment that are important to us but also imagined states that do not currently exist" (Tesser 340). Lewin’s field theory lead to the development of actual field research on human behavior. With boldness, Lewin manipulated complex situational variables in natural settings. His approach has guided experiments in the field of social cognition, social motivation, and group processes. Most importantly Lewin helped develop action research. Action research uses empirical social research, social action, and controlled evaluation. |
Quotes by Kurt Lewin
"A successful individual typically sets his next goal somewhat but not too much above his last achievement. In this way he steadily raises his level of aspiration.""Learning is more effective when it is an active rather than a passive process."
"If you want to truly understand something, try to change it."
Discussion about Kurt Lewin and this quote... (theoretical, interesting)
References
Accel-team.coml (n.d.). Change management technique: Kurt Lewin's force field analysis.
Greathouse, J. (n.d.). Kurt Lewin. Psychology History.
Jones, M. J. (n.d.). Class bios of Kurt Lewin.
Schein, E. H. (n.d.). Kurt Lewin's change theory in the field and in the classroom: Notes toward a model of managed learning. SoL online
Smith, M. K. (2001). Kurt Lewin: Groups, experiential learning and action research. the encyclopedia of informal education.