Land Rights
Kurt Lewin (Action Research Model) The study of psychology is a science centered on understanding and predicting human behavior. Throughout its history distinct individuals have come along and dramatically impacted our understanding and perception of this science with their thoughts, theories, and research, shaping psychology into what it is today. One such person who had this dramatic effect is Kurt Lewin. Psychology’s founding fathers, such as Freud, strongly believed that behavior was driven by our unconscious motivations or personality characteristics. Kurt Lewin revolutionized the study of psychology by empirically showing that human behavior was not only a product of one’s internal makeup but also greatly effected by the dynamic environment in with an individual lives. Kurt Lewin has been stated to be one of the founders of social psychology and has radically influenced our understanding of experimental learning, leadership, action research, and group dynamics. Lewin’s contribution and importance to the study of psychology can be seen in that his work not only set a firm foundation for modern research on human interaction but more importantly he displayed how social interactions can be empirically measured and studied.
Kurt Lewin was born on September 9, 1890 in Mogilno, in the province of Posen (a part of Prussia, currently known as Poland). Lewin was one of four children born into a common Jewish family. His father worked in the families owned general store and was an active member of their Jewish community. At age 15, the Lewin family moved to Berlin to ensure all possible educational advantages for their children.
Lewin’s early education included semesters of study in Frieburg focusing of medicine and natural science and a semester of study in Munich focusing on biology. It was during this time that Lewin became involved in the socialist movement with a particular concern for combating anti-Semitism, the democratization of
Kurt Lewin was born on September 9, 1890 in Mogilno, in the province of Posen (a part of Prussia, currently known as Poland). Lewin was one of four children born into a common Jewish family. His father worked in the families owned general store and was an active member of their Jewish community. At age 15, the Lewin family moved to Berlin to ensure all possible educational advantages for their children.
Lewin’s early education included semesters of study in Frieburg focusing of medicine and natural science and a semester of study in Munich focusing on biology. It was during this time that Lewin became involved in the socialist movement with a particular concern for combating anti-Semitism, the democratization of
Citations: Daniels, V. (2003). Kurt Lewin notes. Sonoma State University. http://www.sonoma.edu/users/d/daniels/lewinnotes.html. Lewin, K. (1951) Field theory in social science; selected theoretical papers. D. Cartwright. New York: Harper & Row. Marrow, A. J. (1969) The Practical Theorist. : The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin, New York: Basic Books. Smith, M. K. (2001) Kurt Lewin, groups, experiential learning and action research. The Encyclopedia of Informal Education. http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-lewin.htm. Reber, A & Reber, E (2003). The penguin dictionary of psychology. 3rd Edition. Penguin Books.