Change theory by Kurt lewin

Change theory by Kurt lewin
Introduction
• Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) is regarded as the father of social psychology. • He was born in Germany and later moved to the United States.
His writings on group dynamics, group therapy, and social psychology are well known.
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Kurt Lewin introduced his field theory concepts, emphasizing the fact that the group is more than the sum of its parts.
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In 1939, Lewin coined the term “group dynamics.”
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According to his field theory, “one’s behavior is related to both one’s personal characteristics and the social situation in which one finds oneself.”
Lewin’s theory of change
• His model of the change process in human systems was his most influential theory.
• Kurt Lewin proposed a three-stage change model known as the unfreezing-change-refreeze model, which requires prior knowledge to be rejected and replaced.
• According to Lewin’s theory, behavior is “a dynamic balance of forces acting in opposing directions.”
Concepts
Motivating factors
• Driving forces are forces that push in the direction of change.
• Driving forces facilitate change by pushing people in the desired direction and causing a shift in the equilibrium toward change.
Constriction forces
• Restraining forces are forces that act in opposition to driving forces.
• Restraining forces obstruct change by pushing the person in the opposite direction. • Restraining forces cause a shift in the equilibrium, which opposes change.
• Equilibrium is a state in which driving forces equal restraining forces and no change occurs.
• Changes in the driving and restraining forces can cause equilibrium to rise or fall.
Stages
There are three distinct and critical stages:
1. “defrosting”
• Unfreezing is the process of discovering a way to allow people to let go of an old pattern that was counterproductive in some way.
• It is necessary to unfreeze in order to overcome the strains of individual resistance and group conformity.
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Unfreezing can be accomplished using one of three methods.
• To begin, strengthen the driving forces that steer behavior away from the current situation or status quo.
• Second, reduce the restraining forces that impede movement away from the existing equilibrium.
• Finally, find a way to combine the two methods listed above.
2. “moving to a higher level or changing”
• This stage entails a process of change in thoughts, feelings, behavior, or all three that is more liberating or productive in some way.
3. the term “refreezing”
• Refreezing establishes the change as a new habit, making it the “standard operating procedure.”
• Without this stage of refreezing, it is easy to revert to old habits.
Application
• It is critical to analyze the driving and restraining forces before implementing a planned change. – I need writing help with my dissertation – cheap thesis writing services