Lewin's Field Theory and Tolman's Purposivism.pdf

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1. Paper: Psychology of Learning and Development
Code: 1C

Topic:Lewin’s Field Theory and
Tolman’s Purposivism

Submitted to: Dr. Dhivyadeepa Ma'am
Submitted by: John Paul (M.Ed First Year)
Department of Education

Bharathiar University, Coimbatore
(2025-2027 Batch)

2. Introduction 2

This presentation examines Lewin's Field Theory and Tolman's
Theory of Purposivism, two influential concepts in psychology. By
understanding their principles and implications, we can apply these
theories effectively in various fields such as education,
organizational behavior, and social interactions.

3. Y,

Kurt Lewin (1890-1947): A
German-American psychologist
known as the father of modern
social psychology, he emphasized
that human behavior is shaped by
the interaction between individuals
and their environment (Field
Theory).

Lewin's Field Theory

4. Basic Concepts and Principles

«Behavior as a Function (B = f(P, E)) - Human behavior results from
the dynamic interaction between the person (P) and the environment
(E), not from either alone.

«Life Space — The “psychological field” that includes the individual and
their environment as perceived at a given time; all motives, goals, and
influences exist within this space.

«Dynamic Interdependence - Changes in one part of the field (life
space) affect the entire system, meaning behavior can only be
understood in relation to the total situation.

5. Applications in Social Psychology

«Group Dynamics and Leadership: Lewin applied field theory to study
how leadership styles (authoritarian, democratic, laissez-faire) shape group
behavior, cooperation, and productivity.

«Social Change and Conflict Resolution: Using his life space concept, he
explained how social pressures and environments influence attitudes and
behaviors, forming the basis for interventions in prejudice reduction,
organizational change, and community development.

6. Impact on Group Dynamics 7

Lewin's theory significantly impacts understanding how groups
operate. It provides insights into the forces that drive group
behaviors, fostering collaboration and identifying obstacles to
effective teamwork.

7. Application of Lewin’s Field Theory

«Education: Teachers can improve learning by shaping the classroom
environment (peer interaction, motivation, support), since behavior
depends on both the student and surroundings.

«Organizational Change: Lewin’s Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze
model helps institutions manage transitions by preparing individuals,
guiding change, and stabilizing new behaviors.

«Conflict Resolution & Social Issues: Field theory is used to
understand group tensions, reduce prejudice, and create social
interventions by analyzing the total situation influencing behavior.

8. Drawback of Field Theory

«Too Abstract: Key ideas like life space and psychological field are
vague and difficult to define precisely.

«Lack of Empirical Evidence: The theory is hard to test or measure
scientifically, limiting its reliability.

*Over-Simplification: Reducing behavior to B = f{(P E) may ignore
deeper biological, cultural, or unconscious influences.

9. Y,

Edward C. Tolman (1886-
1959): An American psychologist
who proposed Purposive
Behaviorism, emphasizing that
behavior is goal-directed and
guided by cognitive maps
(mental representations),
bridging behaviorism and
cognitive psychology.

Tolman's Theory of Purposivism

10. Basic Concepts and Principles

*Goal-Directed Behavior: Tolman argued that all behavior is purposeful,
directed toward achieving goals rather than being just a chain of stimulus—
response connections.

*Cognitive Maps: Organisms form mental representations of their
environment, which guide learning and decision-making beyond simple
trial-and-error.

«Molar vs. Molecular Behavior: Tolman emphasized molar behavior (the

overall purpose or pattern of action) rather than molecular behavior (small,
isolated responses).

11. Applications in Social Psychology

«Attitude and Motivation Studies: It helps explain how
individuals’ actions in social situations are guided by goals,
intentions, and expectations rather than mere external stimuli.
*Group and Social Behavior: Purposivism shows that people
form cognitive maps of social environments, which influence
cooperation, conflict resolution, and decision-making within
groups.

12. lication of Purposivis

«Education: Teachers can design goal-oriented learning activities, w|
students build understanding through purposeful tasks rather than rote
memorization.

‘Workplace & Organizations: Employees’ behavior can be guided by
setting clear goals and expectations, using purposive motivation instead of
just rewards and punishments.

«Therapy & Counseling: Counselors help individuals form new cognitive
maps (mental representations) to set purposeful goals, overcome
challenges, and modify maladaptive behaviors.

13. Drawback of Purposivism

»Abstract Nature: Concepts like cognitive maps and purposive
behavior are difficult to measure or observe directly, limiting
empirical validation.

«Neglect of Emotions: The theory focuses mainly on cognition
and goals, but underplays the role of emotions, instincts, and
unconscious drives in behavior.

«Limited Scope: While useful in explaining learning and
motivation, it does not fully account for complex social, cultural,
or biological influences on behavior.

14. 03

Comparative Analysis

15. Similarities between Both Theories

*Holistic Approach: Both view behavior as a whole (molar)
rather than as isolated stimulus—response units, focusing on
overall purpose or field.

*Goal-Directed Behavior: Both emphasize that human actions
are purposeful, directed by goals or needs within a given
situation.

«Role of Environment: Both highlight the importance of
environment in shaping behavior—Lewin through the life space
and Tolman through cognitive maps.

16. Differences of Both Theories

«Focus: Lewin’s Field Theory emphasizes the life space and
dynamic interaction between person and environment, while
Tolman’s Purposivism stresses goal-directed learning through
cognitive maps.

«Approach: Field Theory is more situational and social,
studying group dynamics and environmental forces, whereas
Purposivism is more individual and cognitive, focusing on how
the mind organizes behavior toward goals.

-Application: Lewin applied his theory widely in social
psychology, leadership, and organizational change, while
Tolman applied Purposivism mainly in learning, motivation, and

aon behavior experiments.

17. Conclusions

The examination of Lewin's Field Theory and Tolman's Theory of
Purposivism reveals their complementary nature in
understanding human behavior. Their applications across various
fields demonstrate the importance of integrating cognitive and
environmental factors in psychology, ultimately enhancing our
ability to influence positive change.

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18. Thank you!