Kurt Lewin

Kurt Lewin (9 September 1890 – 12 February 1947) was a German-American psychologist, known as one of the modern pioneers of social psychology, organizational psychology, and applied psychology.

Early life and education

Lewin was born into a Jewish family in Mogilno, Prussia, Germany (now Poland). He studied at the University of Freiburg and the University of Munich and completed his PhD at the University of Berlin in 1914.

Career

Lewin immigrated to the United States in 1933 when Adolf Hitler came to power. He became a naturalized American citizen in 1940. He was a professor at the University of Iowa from 1935 to 1944 and then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) until his death in 1947.

Lewin is best known for his work in the field of social psychology, particularly his development of field theory, which suggests that behavior is the result of the individual and the environment. He also developed the concept of group dynamics, which studies the behaviors and psychological processes occurring within a social group.

Legacy

Lewin's work has had a significant impact on a variety of fields, including psychology, business, education, and even the civil rights movement. His theories continue to be influential in the field of organizational change and development.

See also

• List of social psychologists
• History of psychology

External links

• Kurt Lewin Institute