LEWIN, KURT ZADEK

LEWIN, KURT ZADEK
LEWIN, KURT ZADEK (1890–1947), psychologist and author. Lewin, who was born in Mogilno, Germany, was professor of psychology at the University of Berlin until 1932 when he foresaw the rise of the Nazi regime and went to the United States. He taught at Stanford, Cornell, and Iowa universities (1935–45) and organized and directed the research center for group dynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1945–47). Lewin was considered one of the most original psychologists of his generation. He was a pioneer in group dynamics; he introduced field theory, and his writings on the nature of causation all were innovations. From his earlier collaboration with the Gestalt school he moved to problems affecting group life. In his books Principles of Topological Psychology (1936), The Conceptional Representation and Measurement of Psychological Forces (1938), he tried to develop a systematic theory of psychology by a mathematical description of behavior in a "life space," using vectors, geometry, and topology to interpret psychological situations. Lewin applied his dynamic theories to Jewish psychosocial needs. Zionism was to him a sociological necessity. He contended that to belong, develop normally, and have contact with nature, the Jews must have their own country. He visited Palestine several times. He accepted a chair at the Hebrew University, to organize its department of psychology, but the plan did not materialize because of lack of laboratory funds. He then devoted himself to research on the problems of Jewish maladjustment and self-acceptance as a member of a minority group. In 1945 he established the Commission on Community Interrelations of the American Jewish Congress, a research action program to combat antisemitism. He also planned to organize an international Jewish institute of action-research. He outlined plans for a United Nations' international organization of group dynamics. Lewin was associated with Jewish educational work all his life. His philosophy was that "an early buildup of a clear and positive feeling of belongingness to the Jewish group is   one of the few effective things that Jewish parents can do for the later happiness of their children. In this way parents can minimize the ambiguity and the tension inherent in the situation of the Jewish minority group, and thus counteract various forms of maladjustment resulting therefrom." In addition to his numerous papers and 70 experimental studies published with his students, Lewin's principal works include A Dynamic Theory of Personality (1935); Field Theory in Social Science (1951); and "Bringing up the Jewish Child," in The Menorah Journal, 28 (1940), 29–45. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: Tolman, in: Psychological Review, 55 (1948), 1–4; R. Segalman, "A Test of the Lewinian Hypothesis on Self-Hatred Among the Jews"(1967 – thesis, N.Y. University); J. Rothman, Minority Group Identification and Intergroup Relations: An Examination of Kurt Lewin's Theory of Jewish Group Identity (1967); Alfred J. Marrow, The Practical Theorist: The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin (1969). (Menachem M. Brayer)

Encyclopedia Judaica. 1971.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lewin, Kurt Zadek — (1890–1947)    German American psychologist. After teaching psychology and philosophy in Germany, Lewin emigrated to the United States in 1932. From 1945 he directed the research institute for group dynamics at the Massachusetts Institute of… …   Who’s Who in Jewish History after the period of the Old Testament

  • Lewin, Kurt Zadek — (1890 1947)    German psychologist. Born in Mogilno, Germany, he studied at the University of Freiburg, the University of Milan and the University of Berlin. In 1933 he went to the US and taught at Cornell University. He later became professor of …   Dictionary of Jewish Biography

  • Kurt Lewin — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Lewin. Kurt Lewin Biographie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lewin — is a surname, and may refer to:* Albert Lewin (1894–1968), an American film director, producer, and screenwriter * Bernard Lewin, a German born American collector of Mexican art * Daniel Danny Lewin, a co founder of Akamai Technologies * David… …   Wikipedia

  • Kurt Lewin — Infobox Scientist name = Kurt Lewin image width = 150px caption = birth date = September 9,1890 birth place = death date = February 12,1947 death place = Newtonville, Massachusetts residence = citizenship = Germany, United States nationality =… …   Wikipedia

  • Левин, Курт — В Википедии есть статьи о других людях с такой фамилией, см. Левин (фамилия). Курт Левин Дата рождения: 9 сентября 1890(1890 09 09) Место рождения: Германия Дата смерти …   Википедия

  • Курт Левин — Дата рождения: 9 сентября 1890 Место рождения: Германия Дата смерти: 12 февраля 1947 Место смерти: США Гражданство …   Википедия

  • Левин К. — Курт Левин Дата рождения: 9 сентября 1890 Место рождения: Германия Дата смерти: 12 февраля 1947 Место смерти: США Гражданство …   Википедия

  • Левин Курт — Курт Левин Дата рождения: 9 сентября 1890 Место рождения: Германия Дата смерти: 12 февраля 1947 Место смерти: США Гражданство …   Википедия

  • List of German Jews — The Jewish presence in Germany is older than Christianity; the first Jewish population came with the Romans to the city Cologne. A Golden Age in the first millennium saw the emergence of the Ashkenazi Jews, while the persecution and expulsion… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”