Kurt Lewin is considered
to be a Neo Gestaltian Psychologist.
Born at Mogilno, Prussia in Germany, in 1890, he was the second of four children of a middle class Jewish family. His father owned a small general store where his mother also worked and the family resided above the store. They also owned a small farm on the outskirts of the town where Kurt Lewin learned to enjoy nature while growing up. He was fond of saying the ninth nine of 90 (Because he was born on September 9, 1890.)
When he was 15, the Lewin family moved to Berlin. He was introduced to Greek philosophy for which he developed a life-long passion.
In 1909, Lewin entered the University of Frieberg to study medicine. With a keen desire to become a country doctor letter, he took a transfer to the University of Munich to study biology. There after he went to the University of Berlin to complete doctorate in Philosophy.
In 1910, Lewin prepared himself to take up the position of a University professor. During those days, there was an Anti-Semitic wave throughout German Universities. He was aware as to the obstacles he would have to face on his way to professorship. His fellow students included a few women who engaged in long discussions seeking solutions to the social problems, including how to change women’s position, dignity in society. From 1910 to 1912 Lewin and his fellow friends, students were involved in the socialist movement. They organized an adult education program. This was Lewin’s great service to the working class in those days. The program became popular and evoked enthusiastic response among students and teachers. He had formal education and training in psychology at the University of Berlin. His formal training especially in experimental psychology began in 1910, in Berlin, and led to a Ph. D. in experimental study of Associative Learning in 1916. He developed a serious interest in psychology when an instructor challenged him regarding a statement he made on a scientific concept. |
This is the turning point in Lewin’s life. Lewin’s
defense led him in 1910 to the University of Berlin’s psychological institute. During
that period the eminent psychologist Carl Stumpf was director of the institute, and who
eventually became his dissertation director (a Ph. D. Guide). Here, he met the famous
philosopher Ernst Cassirer.
Ernst Cassirer, left a lasting influence on him with respect to philosophy of science. At the institute he joined a lively group of students engaged in discussing and challenging conventional theories.
When Lewin completed his studies in 1914 he volunteered to serve in the Kaiser’s army. While serving near the war front for two years he was injured during combat. He served as a private and eventually became a lieutenant in the German army during World War I. For the valor displayed at the front, he was awarded the Iron Cross. He wrote the landmark 1917 article "War Landscape" which represents the earliest sketches of his concept of field theory.
