Kurt Lewin: Field Theory, Change Theory, and Legacy

Introduction

Theorist Kurt Lewin (1890–1947) can be counted among the most prominent psychologists of his time. His works laid the groundwork for organizational development and are even now regarded as pivotal to the field. It has been aptly stated that almost no questions can be raised regarding Kurt Lewin being the intellectual founder of modern applied behavioral science theories, as well as planned change and action research. Lewin's groundbreaking planned-change research examined different styles of leadership, and many of his studies were conducted during World War II to modify consumer behavior. This set the stage for an entire generation of studies and investigations into group dynamics, as well as change-program implementation (Schein 1988, p. 239).

Lewin was the mastermind behind the development of "topological psychology," or field theory, which theoretically reinforced all his applied behavioral science works. A noteworthy example from the management context was Lewin's research on styles of leadership, which proved the effectiveness of laissez-faire and democratic leadership styles over autocratic leadership — a fine example of the Lewinian classic field theory. The theory was developed over a span of 25 years, beginning in the 1920s. Drawing on the field theory of physics, Lewin contended that the organization of facts that coexist in a psychological or social scenario can be understood as a kind of space or life field.

Biography

Born in 1890 in Poland, Kurt Lewin contributed significantly to the field of psychology. He grew up in Berlin, where he began developing a conceptual apparatus for the study of human behavior and motives, with particular procedural thoroughness. He formulated proper social science practices for studying society with precision. In 1910, he changed universities and shifted his field of study, enrolling in a German university where he began studying psychology under the guidance of Carl Stumpf. On completing his PhD in 1914, he enrolled in Germany's Army. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of World War I, he was not awarded his doctorate until two years later. During his service, Lewin rose from private to officer rank and was awarded the Iron Cross for his contributions and for an injury sustained during the war. His military service is believed to have contributed significantly to his later theories.

In 1917, Lewin married Maria Landsberg, with whom he had two children — Fritz and Agnes. After ten years of marriage, the couple divorced. Lewin completed his doctorate in philosophy and psychology and later served as a professor from 1926 to 1932, during which time he conducted experimental research on learning, needs, motivation, and tension states. After Hitler rose to power, Lewin and his family emigrated to America in 1933, where he began a new academic career. He carried out revolutionary work in the field of applied psychology and welcomed the challenges that his move from Berlin presented, challenges that ultimately paved the way for his social influence theories. These contributions caused many to regard him — perhaps mistakenly — as the father of social psychology.

Continuing his research, Lewin formed the "Dynamics" group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Coghlan & Brannick, 2001). He also negotiated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on establishing a research unit, published A Dynamic Theory of Personality, and advanced his topological psychology doctrines. He worked at Harvard for a year before moving to another institution and continued writing prolifically until his death at age 56 from a heart attack (Ash, 1992).

Lewin's Theories

Lewin is credited with the formulation of numerous theories that shed light on the operation of various psychological phenomena and on human behavior in different situations. Field theory, change theory, and the theory of gatekeeping are among his most famous contributions.

Lewin raised the topic of social change in his article "Frontiers in Group Dynamics," in which he compared social change to a force field. He suggested that change agents — that is, individuals — think in terms of how the current state can be transformed into a desired state, much as a force field changes. A planned change implies that a new, desired force-field equilibrium replaces the one at the present state. According to the meta-theoretical framework he proposed, total social forces should be taken into consideration at every stage (Glassman et al., 2013).

The quintessence of Kurt Lewin's works is the field theory. Following his death, this theory did not draw much attention until the 1990s, when researchers began extensively employing force field analyses. The theory's origins lie partly in the influence of Gestalt psychology and the philosophy of science advanced by Ernst Cassirer, as well as in topology. It has been argued that Lewin's attempt to replace traditional topology with a mathematics-based Lewinian topology, in pursuit of scientific rigor, may have paradoxically undermined the theory's broader relevance.

Field theory extensively enabled Lewin and his associates to comprehend the forces behind undesirable sustained behaviors, and to identify which forces needed to be weakened or strengthened in order to produce desired behavioral change. This forms one of four elements in his planned-change approach, the other three being group dynamics, the three-stage change model, and action research (Burnes, 2004a). The function of group dynamics and field theory was to comprehend motivation and the formation and maintenance of organizations, while the latter two elements focused on changing the behavior of social groups. Taken together, all of Lewin's concepts form a single, well-integrated theoretical system (Glassman et al., 2013).

The foundation of planned change, however, remains Lewin's field theory. Without it, comprehending the forces that shape present behavior — and identifying those which must be altered to propel change — becomes difficult. Unfortunately, while the other three elements attracted considerable scholarly support after Lewin's death, the social science community's general understanding of field theory has grown increasingly vague (Coghlan & Brannick, 2003).

Lewin viewed modifying people's attitudes and behaviors as equivalent to severing a long-established habit or social custom. Social habits, which he identified as a key factor preventing change, he termed "inner resistances to change." To overcome these resistances, applying a force sufficient to repeal the custom or break the habit is imperative. According to Lewin, the process of change has three stages, of which the first is to unfreeze the current level or habit. This stage is vital to break self-righteousness and complacency, and requires that a person be emotionally motivated to change attitudes or behaviors (Glassman, Erdem & Bartholomew, 2013).

Gatekeeping denotes the control of information through a particular gate guarded by gatekeepers, who determine what information is allowed passage and what is not (Shoemaker & Vos, 2009). Gatekeepers exercise considerable power over those on the other side of the gate. The origin of gatekeeping theory is associated with Kurt Lewin, who viewed it as one of many correlated social phenomena. To understand it fully, an understanding of the whole social field was essential. Gatekeeping theory arose organically from Lewin's broader conceptual work on individuals and groups (Shoemaker & Vos, 2009).

References

Ash, M.G. (1992). Cultural contexts and scientific change in psychology: Kurt Lewin in Iowa. American Psychologist, 47(2), 198–207. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.47.2.198

Burnes, B., & Cooke, B. (2013). Kurt Lewin's field theory: A review and re-evaluation. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(4), 408–425.

Coghlan, D., & Brannick, T. (2003). Kurt Lewin: The "practical theorist" for the 21st century. Irish Journal of Management, 24(2), 31.

DeIuliis, D. (2011). The social dynamics of network gatekeeping (Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University).

Glassman, M., Erdem, G., & Bartholomew, M. (2013). Action research and its history as an adult education movement for social change. Adult Education Quarterly, 0741713612471418.

Lewis-Beck, M., Bryman, A.E., & Liao, T.F. (2003). The Sage encyclopedia of social science research methods. Sage Publications.

Michael (2013). Refining Lewin's formula: A general model for explaining situational influence on individual social behavior. Asian Journal of Social Psychology. Hong Kong Publications.

Schwartz, E.K. (1971). Review of The practical theorist: The life and work of Kurt Lewin. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 41(1), 184–185.

Shoemaker, P., Eichholz, M., Kim, E., & Wrigley, B. (2001). Individual and routine forces in gatekeeping. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 78, 233–246.

Annotated Bibliography

Ash, M.G. (1992). Cultural contexts and scientific change in psychology: Kurt Lewin in Iowa. American Psychologist, 47(2), 198–207.

This article follows Kurt Lewin's partial biography after his move to America from Germany in 1933. While working for the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station, Lewin encountered several challenges. He attempted to reproduce the scientific group he had established in Germany, and when unable to do so, he adapted to the new world. He transferred his life experiences into his cultural-change adaptation theories, formulated successful research systems, and transformed the bases of psychology in the United States.

Burnes, B., & Cooke, B. (2013). Kurt Lewin's field theory: A review and re-evaluation. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(4), 408–425.

This work describes field theory with sufficient examples and grants the author a platform from which to evaluate all arguments regarding it. The theory is reviewed alongside other related facts, and a re-evaluation is carried out at the conclusion.

Coghlan, D., & Brannick, T. (2003). Kurt Lewin: The "practical theorist" for the 21st century. Irish Journal of Management, 24(2), 31.

Kurt Lewin, regarded as the founder of modern social psychology, is discussed in this article. His contributions to social psychology, from concept to theory, are detailed. The article mentions his invitation to MIT by Douglas McGregor, where Lewin established the Research Center for Group Dynamics with three key objectives: extensive understanding of how groups operate, developing a doctoral program in social psychology, and assimilating practice and experience in the social sciences. The article demonstrates his role in social science research and shows how his research relates to broader systems and theories.

DeIuliis, D. (2011). The social dynamics of network gatekeeping (Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University).

This research paper discusses Kurt Lewin's gatekeeping theory, along with many other theories founded and supported by Lewin.

Glassman, M., Erdem, G., & Bartholomew, M. (2013). Action research and its history as an adult education movement for social change. Adult Education Quarterly, 0741713612471418.

This work presents a platform for redefining and describing action research and what it involves. It analyses and critiques action research and its proponents.

Lewis-Beck, M., Bryman, A.E., & Liao, T.F. (2003). The Sage encyclopedia of social science research methods. Sage Publications.

This work analyzes numerous social science aspects and thoroughly examines the origins and details of action research. It also explains how Lewin relates to the field and provides an analysis of the criticism associated with the topic.

Michael (2013). Refining Lewin's formula: A general model for explaining situational influence on individual social behavior. Asian Journal of Social Psychology. Hong Kong Publications.

This work sheds light on Lewin's formula, describing how individual behavior is influenced by situational forces and explaining the reasons underlying that behavior.

Schwartz, E.K. (1971). Review of The practical theorist: The life and work of Kurt Lewin. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 41(1), 184–185.

This article analyzes Alfred J. Marrow's 1969 biography on Kurt Lewin, The Practical Theorist: The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin. This comprehensive biography incorporates the recollections of people who were directly in contact with Lewin during his lifetime. Marrow, who thoroughly understood Lewin's theories and was himself a graduate student of Lewin who had also emigrated from Germany to America, was an ideal choice of biographer. The book claims that Lewin's students and colleagues held him in high regard, and Marrow was fortunate to have worked with Lewin during his lifetime.

Shoemaker, P., Eichholz, M., Kim, E., & Wrigley, B. (2001). Individual and routine forces in gatekeeping. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 78, 233–246.

This article demonstrates the forces underlying the theory of gatekeeping and its application to the journalism field. Several examples are discussed that illustrate the theory — notably, that the individual positioned at the gate holds considerably more authority than those on the inside.