<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The relationship between Kurt Lewin and Lev S. Vygotsky is important for many methodological questions raised by the two psychologists such as distinguishing a genetic and an accidental event type. The concept of „Gestalt“ is another important issue. The present article analyzes and contextualizes the significance of this concept in their discussions since they met in Berlin in 1925. It can be shown that a difference between Lewin’s and Vygotsky’s approach becomes salient in the ways they refer to Gestalt theory as a holistic approach. While Lewin understands the here-and-now of situation in which an event occurs as depending on the present field forces as a whole, Vygotsky agrees largely with Lewin’s postulate to consider all field forces, but then moves on from the field as an originally spatial model to introduce a semantic model. According to Vygotsky this is necessary to theorize fluidity and flexibility in behavior and thus to understand the necessary psychologically preconditions for free will and independency.</p>
</abstract>

The relationship between Kurt Lewin and Lev S. Vygotsky is important for many methodological questions raised by the two psychologists such as distinguishing a genetic and an accidental event type. The concept of „Gestalt“ is another important issue. The present article analyzes and contextualizes the significance of this concept in their discussions since they met in Berlin in 1925. It can be shown that a difference between Lewin’s and Vygotsky’s approach becomes salient in the ways they refer to Gestalt theory as a holistic approach. While Lewin understands the here-and-now of situation in which an event occurs as depending on the present field forces as a whole, Vygotsky agrees largely with Lewin’s postulate to consider all field forces, but then moves on from the field as an originally spatial model to introduce a semantic model. According to Vygotsky this is necessary to theorize fluidity and flexibility in behavior and thus to understand the necessary psychologically preconditions for free will and independency.

Beyond the concept of “Gestalten” – Kurt Lewin and Lev Semënovic Vygotsky as methodologically related

Gestalt Theory

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The relationship between Kurt Lewin and Lev S. Vygotsky is important for many methodological questions raised by the two psychologists such as distinguishing a...

Beyond the concept of “Gestalten” – Kurt Lewin and Lev Semënovic Vygotsky as methodologically related

Publié en ligne: 02 mai 2024

Pages: 287 - 300

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2023-0021

Mots clés
Field theory, socio-Gestalten, methodology, psychological models

© 2023 Ines Langemeyer, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Beyond the concept of “Gestalten” – Kurt Lewin and Lev Semënovic Vygotsky as methodologically related

Publié en ligne: 02 mai 2024

Pages: 287 - 300

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2023-0021

Mots clésField theory, socio-Gestalten, methodology, psychological models

© 2023 Ines Langemeyer, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
Field theory, socio-Gestalten, methodology, psychological models