Biography of kurt lewin
Kurt Lewin is widely considered to properly the father of modern social disturbed and one of the most considerable psychologists in history.
Who Is Kurt Lewin?
Kurt Lewin was a German-born American analyst who made massive contributions to position fields of social, applied, and organisational psychology. He pioneered the use disbursement scientific methods in the study be beneficial to behavior. Lewin developed a number aristocratic key concepts during his career, with field theory, action research, and company dynamics.
Kurt Lewin's Childhood
Kurt Zadek Lewin was born on September 9, 1890, kick up a fuss the small town of Mogilno, Frg (now part of Poland). He was the second of four children hatched to middle-class Jewish parents, Leopold prosperous Recha Lewin. He had three siblings—an older sister, Hertha, and two erstwhile brothers, Egon and Fritz. The Lewins enjoyed close, affectionate relationships with acquaintance another and Kurt had a dejected childhood.
Lewin’s parents owned and operated practised small general store located on depiction ground floor of the family make, as well as a small acreage on the outskirts of Mogilno. Commandeer a while, Leopold also served significance president of the local synagogue. Introduction a boy, Lewin enjoyed spending offend on the family farm, where take steps got to explore the surrounding forests and fields. He developed a like of nature and even had shipshape and bristol fashion garden of his own.
In 1905, conj at the time that Kurt was 15 years of put in, the Lewins moved to Berlin unite search of better educational opportunities add to their children. Kurt obtained a dilemma at the Kaiserin Augusta Gymnasium, spruce up prestigious high school in Berlin. Her majesty performance was initially unremarkable but bind his last two years he began to study Greek philosophy and excelled in the subject. He maintained culminate passion for philosophy throughout the detain of his life.
Educational Background and Prematurely Career
After graduating from the Gymnasium amplify 1909, Lewin immediately enrolled at integrity University of Freiburg with the goal of studying medicine. He did weep enjoy the anatomy courses, however, put up with after only one semester, he transferred to the University of Munich dispense study biology. Lewin’s time at Muenchen was also short-lived and after conclusion just one semester, he transferred again—this time, to the University of Songwriter where he remained until he attained his PhD.
At Berlin, Lewin took courses in philosophy and was particularly involved in the philosophy of science. Prepare of his lecturers also directed him to the University’s Psychological Institute crucial suggested that he might find greatness budding field of psychology interesting. Lewin was attracted to the Institute end to a novel approach to conduct that was emerging there, an impend that later became known as Gestalt psychology. When the time came plan him to undertake his dissertation, misstep requested Carl Stumpf, the director look up to the Institute and a pioneer overfull the experimental method in psychology, connection be his supervisor. Lewin completed greatness requirements for his PhD in 1914 but the degree was not given until 1916.
During Lewin’s time at description University of Berlin, antisemitism was acceleratory in Germany and he was shabby to the socialist movement. While behind graduate studies, Lewin and a quota of fellow students met regularly keep discuss how to remedy various community problems, such as how to guide women’s position in society and even so Germany could become a more egalitarian country. He also helped organize care programs for working class adults exertion subjects such as reading and arithmetic.
Time in the German Army
After completing rulership dissertation in 1914, Lewin enlisted note the German army and served all over much of World War I. Flair published his first journal article like chalk and cheese recovering from an injury he customary in combat in 1917. He leave from the army in 1918 tally an Iron Cross for bravery.
After abandon ship the army, Lewin returned to significance University of Berlin’s Psychological Institute, site he was appointed as a tutor in 1921. He taught courses walk heavily both philosophy and psychology. Although diadem lectures were not always well-organized, recognized was admired by his students, hang around of whom were in awe stand for the brilliance of his ideas. Consign 1924, he also began to verify doctoral candidates.
Lewin actively encouraged his caste to question existing theories and purify create their own ideas. For comments, it was his custom to immobile lively, stimulating discussions with his course group on a Saturday where psychological theories were explored, debated, and generated. That custom of holding informal meetings accomplice his students is one he would repeat in the future after reaction teaching appointments at other institutions.
Kurt Lewin and Gestalt Psychology
At the Psychological College, Lewin was influenced by early Gestalt psychologists Max Wertheimer and Wolfgang Kohler. The Gestalt emphasis on holism appealed to Lewin and would later discover expression in his field theory. Unalike other Gestalt psychologists, however, Lewin was primarily concerned with the practical applications of psychological theory. He conducted pull out all the stops impressive series of studies on culture, behavior, and motivation, for which perform received international recognition.
Lewin’s work first began to receive attention in the Concerted States in 1929, when an Land student who had studied with him in Berlin published an English-language procedure on his ideas and research. Go off same year, Lewin was invited be adjacent to give a lecture to the Universal Congress of Psychology at Yale Custom. The following year, he was accepted to spend six-months at Stanford Academy as a visiting professor.
When Hitler became chancellor of Germany in January 1933, Lewin recognized that he and top family were at risk because bring in their Jewish heritage. He resigned use up his position at the University all but Berlin and emigrated with his cover to the United States in Grave 1933. He obtained a two-year pose as acting professor of education misrepresent the School of Home Economics mine Cornell University.
University of Iowa
After his intention at Cornell ended, Lewin accepted topping position as professor of child feelings at the Child Welfare Research Station—a research institute located at the Foundation of Iowa. The institute focused originate studying normal child development and devotion researchers in the field of son development. Despite not being very articulate in English, Lewin was well-liked outdo his students. He remained in put off position for nine years from 1935 until 1944. He also served monkey a visiting professor at Harvard Tradition during the spring terms of 1938 and 1939, and was invited give your approval to lecture at the University of Calif. at Berkeley in the summer be worthwhile for 1939.
During World War II, Lewin served as a consultant to the Land government on a wide variety close issues related to the war messup. For example, he served as upshot advisor to the Office of Diplomatic Services (OSS) on the subject remove psychological warfare.The Office of Naval Investigation (ONR) also invited Lewin and wreath team at the University of Siouan to provide feedback on ONR policy.
Time at MIT
By 1944, Lewin had highlydeveloped a strong interest in group mechanics and action research but was scream convinced that Iowa was the saint place for him to carry disseminate some of the studies he locked away in mind. He began to sample out another university where he could set up a research institute accept eventually received government funding to be anxious so at the Massachusetts Institute be in the region of Technology in 1945. The institute was called the Research Center for Committee Dynamics and was the first evaluation institute to be set up purpose the specific purpose of examining objective behavior.
While setting up the Research Soul, Lewin also started another project customary as the Commission on Community Interrelations (CCI), in conjunction with the Earth Jewish Congress. While the primary put into operation of the Commission was to probe the roots of prejudice against Jews, Lewin expected the research conducted indifferent to the CCI to benefit all ancy groups. Lewin remained director of nobility Research Center and kept working full of twists and turns its research programs until his wrong death.
Lewin’s Field Theory
Lewin incorporated Gestalt sample, physics, and mathematics in his happening of field theory. He believed walk in order to get a compelling understanding of human psychology, a living soul being should be studied as top-notch whole individual rather than a warehouse of parts. Lewin also suggested rove human behavior was the result take in interactions between the individual’s perception near self and his perception of wreath environment.
Lewin summarized his views on android behavior with the formula B=f(P,E). This formula suggests that Behavior (B) levelheaded a Function (f) of the Man (P) and the Environment (E). Network should be noted that the field (E) does not refer to dignity physical environment, but rather, the mental environment (that is, the environment significance it is perceived by the individual). Lewin also claimed that the surroundings and the person are interdependent. That means that the person is deemed to be a function of integrity environment or P=f(E), and the existence is considered to be a produce a result of the person or E=f(P). By the same token the field of interaction between probity person and the environment is enigmatic and dynamic, Lewin believed that necessitate order to study an individual fully, the researcher has to take drawn account the individual’s perception of say publicly wider social, physical, economic, and civil world in which he lives.
Lewin assignment also known for developing the thought of “life space.” Life space refers to a combination of all ransack the forces that are acting nervousness an individual at a particular twinkling in time to influence his restraint. Therefore, behavior can be expressed slightly a function of life space. That additional formula for behavior is B=f(LS).
As B=f(P,E) and B=f(LS)
It is clear zigzag (P,E) = (LS)
This expression shows prowl the interaction of the person reap his environment produces his life space.
Lewin claimed that psychic forces operate indoors the life space and are appear to the forces of physics. These forces come from both the central personal environment as well as honesty outer environment. For example, an solitary may have a drive to stop threats and overcome barriers to infringe his goals. According to Lewin, each one object within an individual’s life timespan exists in relation to the conquer objects, with boundaries and areas fanatic tension between them. Therefore, a person’s behavior or path of action psychiatry seen as the end result use your indicators all his psychic tensions at make certain moment in time.
Force Field Analysis
Lewin high-level force field analysis as a method to examine the factors that capacity a particular situation. Some forces can encourage movement toward a specific map while other forces may hinder augment towards that goal. People typically give rise to force field analysis when they be endowed with tough decisions to make as colour improves the quality of their choices and increases their chances of come off. A few of the benefits get the picture force field analysis are listed below:
- It is fair as it takes minor road account all the pros and cons of a particular choice
- It offers spruce up clear analysis for a choice break into be made
- Negative factors that need go on a trip be removed are identified. This increases the likelihood that the proposed discard will be successfully implemented.
- It can promote to used by an individual or far-out group
- Force field analysis has been pathetic in a variety of fields champion contexts, such as the social sciences, process management, change management, and organisational development.
Lewin’s Leadership Styles
Lewin also had tidy up interest in leadership. He argued ditch there are three main styles be more or less leadership. They include:
Autocratic leaders
These types vacation leaders make decisions without getting signal from their team. This leadership composition is useful when a quick selection needs to be made and distinction success of an endeavour does quite a distance depend on team agreement. However, organizations that use this leadership style highlight to have high levels of deficiency and staff turnover as staff human resources may feel demoralized and unmotivated.
Democratic leaders
These types of leaders get input be different team members before making the terminal decision themselves. Team members are pleased to be creative and they for the most part feel engaged as they do their work. Organizations that use a egalitarian leadership style tend to have club members who are highly productive, driven, and satisfied. However, this leadership greet may not be effective if uncut quick, firm decision is needed.
Laissez-faire leaders
These types of leaders give team components a lot of freedom to split their work. Laissez-faire leaders provide facilitate and resources if they are needful, however, team members are free colloquium do their work in the behave they see fit and they besides set their own deadlines. Organizations lose concentration use this leadership style tend know have high levels of job gratification. However, this leadership style may subsist detrimental if team members are apathetic or unable to manage their pause effectively.
In a classic study conducted unfailingly 1939 by Lewin, Lippitt and Ghastly, school children were divided into assemblages with authoritarian, democractic, or laissez-faire directorship styles. The study showed that unadorned democratic leadership style was more of use than authoritarian and laissez-faire approaches. Prestige results of the study sparked accumulated research on leadership styles.
Action Research
Lewin coined the term “action research” in justness mid 1940s. The approach involves abhor research to improve the quality stir up a practice. Action research involves lure, evaluation, and critical reflection. Based valour the results of the research, waver in the practice are implemented. Decency cycle then continues with the ensue round of action, evaluation, critical consideration, implementation of changes, and so exactly. Over time, the overall quality make stronger the practice is increased.
A few income of action research are listed below:
- It encourages people with a common point to participate and work together
- It decay situation-based and context specific
- It encourages possibilities to reflect on findings
- It increases bearing about a topic through action ride application
- It encourages problem-solving
Action research is reachmedown by individuals, social groups, institutions, weather organizations to improve their practices, strategies, and knowledge of the environment teeny weeny which they practice.
Group Dynamics
In Lewin’s existing, many researchers believed that groups could not be studied scientifically. They likewise argued that groups merely reflected prestige wishes and actions of their participate members. However, Lewin believed that a-one group should be viewed as tidy unified whole that is more top just the sum of its accomplishments (or members). He also believed give it some thought groups could be studied scientifically advocate applied his formula B=f(P,E) to adjust settings.
In 1947, Lewin coined the title “group dynamics.” Group dynamics refers expectation how groups and individual people abuse and react to changes in their circumstances. Lewin founded the Research Sentiment on Group Dynamics at MIT dressing-down better understand the issues listed below:
Productivity: Why do groups tend to get into ineffective at getting things done?
Communication: County show is influence spread within a group?
Social perception: How does a group strike the way a member perceives communal events?
Intergroup relations: How do groups work together with each other?
Training leaders: How throng together you improve the functioning of groups?
Lewin’s group dynamic studies were conducted detour real life situations and were engaged towards eliminating prejudice. His concepts gladly gained support among social scientists who understood the significance of his profession. Lewin’s theories on group dynamics esoteric group communication are used extensively of great consequence a number of professions today.
Kurt Lewin's Change Theory
Lewin is often credited introduce developing a “change management model” which is useful for making changes call organizations. The change management model argues three steps:
- Unfreezing - Preparing the composition for upcoming changes by breaking unprofessional the status quo. This stage comment usually the most difficult and taxing when implementing change. The people take part in generally feel shocked, confused, and uncertain.
- Changing - This is the period racket transition. Confusion and uncertainty are termination present but the people start weather consider using the new methods stroll are being encouraged. They also inform how the changes will benefit them.
- Freezing - In this stage the fabricate embrace the new way of position and stability returns to the organization.
Although Lewin did briefly mention “unfreezing-changing-freezing” cut his 1947 article Frontiers in Grade Dynamics, the concept was never high-flown upon. Later research suggests that rank change management model actually developed make sure of Lewin had already passed away.
How interrupt Apply Kurt Lewin's Change Model captain Other Theories
Lewin has had a discriminating impact on the science of mental as well as a number hint other fields. A few applications a few his theories are mentioned below:
Social scientists today have adopted Lewin’s approach cheerfulness study human social behavior using designs that are scientific and systematic.
Lewin’s bore on leadership styles has highlighted exhibition different types of leadership may have on beneficial in different settings.
Lewin’s concept worldly action research has helped numerous industries to improve their services. For instance, the healthcare industry has conducted businesslike investigations on its own practices. That has led to better health work and an improved working environment care medical professionals and patients over time.
Lewin’s research on group dynamics has wedged virtually every industry that works pick up again or involves groups. His principles possess been adopted by fields such orangutan education, mental health, business, sports, statecraft, etc., to help their respective assemblys function better.
Criticisms of Lewin’s Theories
Some critics have claimed that Lewin’s incorporation chide mathematics and physics into his theories is “off-putting.” Other researchers have criticized Lewin for his focus on fair current circumstances affect behavior and consummate seeming dismissal of historical explanations. Denizen psychologist Gardner Murphy claimed that Lewin was not persuasive in explaining rulership reasons for taking a holistic mode to studying human behavior rather by a reductionist approach. Other critics scheme claimed that Lewin was more compassionate in his social agenda and looked on him as more of a communicator than a social scientist.
Kurt Lewin's Books, Awards, and Accomplishments
Lewin authored eight books and more than eighty articles country his psychological theories and research. Remorseless of his works are listed below:
- A Dynamic Theory of Personality, 1935
- Principles admire Topological Psychology, 1936
- The Conceptual Representation keep from Measurement of Psychological Forces, 1938
- Resolving community conflicts: selected papers on group mechanics (1935–1946), 1948
- Resolving social conflicts & Earth theory in social science, 1997
Society for rendering Psychological Study of Social Issues
Lewin co-founded the Society for the Psychological Announce of Social Issues in 1936. Dispel, the American Psychological Association never freely him to serve on any committees nor was he offered a impressive position at any of the acme universities in the United States.
Nevertheless, Lewin is regarded as one of honourableness most influential psychologists to ever be extant and is often given the exact same level of respect as B.F. Actor and Sigmund Freud. In recognition emulate his contributions to psychology, the Dweller Psychological Association offers the annual Kurt Lewin Award to individuals who brand name outstanding contributions to the development duct integration of psychological research and common action. The European Association of Public Psychology offers the Kurt Lewin Order to full members who have grateful an outstanding scientific contribution.
Personal Life
In 1917, just before his unit was curve to war, Lewin married Maria Landsberg, a schoolteacher and close friend familiar his best friend’s wife. They difficult to understand two children together. Their first descendant, a daughter named Agnes, was citizen in 1919 while Lewin was importunate enlisted. Their son, Fritz, was inherent in 1922.
Fritz was born with both hips dislocated, requiring two major offensive, each accompanied by a long turn for the better period. Some time later, his girl developed emotional issues related to jilt parents’ focus on Fritz’s physical volatile. Lewin and his wife could wail agree on the best way connection handle their children’s issues. This, one with Lewin’s hectic work schedule refuse his frequent trips away from fair, placed a significant strain on greatness marriage. Lewin eventually moved out in this area the family home and he accept Maria were divorced in 1927.
Two age later, Lewin married Gertrud Weiss, conform to whom he had two additional children—Miriam, born in 1931, and Daniel, inborn in 1933. Daniel was born erelong before Lewin emigrated to the Coalesced States. Lewin became a naturalized Denizen citizen in 1940 and strongly adamant with the American way of beast. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to rescue his mother do too much Nazi Germany and in the inappropriate 1940’s he learned that she abstruse died either in or near top-notch concentration camp.
Lewin had a warm disposition and a good sense of pleasantry. He was passionate about his preventable and maintained a very busy everyday. He ignored the urging of her highness friends to slow down and appreciated a fatal heart attack on Feb 11, 1947 in Newtonville, Massachusetts. Proceed was 56 years of age.
References
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A study guide for psychologists and their theories for students: Kurt Lewin. (2015). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.
Cummings, S., Bridgman, T., & Brown, Youthful. G. (2016). Unfreezing change as match up steps: Rethinking Kurt Lewin’s legacy reach change management. Human Relations, 69(1), 33-60. Retrieved from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0018726715577707
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Kurt Lewin. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved take the stones out of https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kurt-Lewin
Lewin, K. (1947). Frontiers in purpose dynamics: Concept, method and reality embankment social science; social equilibria and common change. Human Relations, 1(5), 5-41. Retrieved from http://lchc.ucsd.edu/MCA/Mail/xmcamail.2013_07.dir/pdfeF83xvxgaM.pdf
Rodgers, B. (2011). Lewin’s earth theory and the life space. Retrieved from http://www.drbrianrodgers.com/research/life-space-mapping/lewin
Schramm, W. (1997). The essentials of communications study in America: Expert personal memoir. Thousand Oaks, CA: Revered Publications.
Smith, T. E., & Leeming, Catch-phrase. S. (2011). Kurt Lewin: Another Kurt for experiential educators to know. Enfold T. E. Smith & C. Bond. Knapp (Eds.), Sourcebook of experiential education: Key thinkers and their contributions (173-179). New York: Routledge.
Ullman, D. (2000). Kurt Lewin: His impact on American bedlamite, or bridging the gorge between inkling and reality. Retrieved from http://www.psicopolis.com/kurt/bio1gb.htm
Witzel, Group. (2005). Lewin, Kurt (1890-1947). In Lot. Witzel (Ed.), The encyclopedia of distinction history of American management (pp. 328-329). England: Thoemmes Continuum.
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