Lewin: Social Psychology and Group Dynamics
Driven out of Europe by Nazism, Kurt Lewin came to the United States and led a
group of researchers in studies of group processes. They conducted pathbreaking
experiments on the influence of different types of leaders in groups and the influence of groups on groups members ’ attitudes and behaviors (for example, they
documented that a group member is more likely to maintain a commitment if it is
made in front of the group).
This work influenced the development of the field of social psychology and of
the group dynamics movement. The group dynamics movement actually devel