field dependence

psychology

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June 26, 2026

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Field dependence is a concept in psychology that describes how individuals are influenced by their surroundings when processing information. People who are "field-dependent" are more easily swayed by external cues and context, while "field-independent" individuals rely more on their internal cues and are better at distinguishing details within a larger field. This difference in cognitive style can influence career choices, with field-dependent people often favoring interpersonal roles and field-independent people leaning towards abstract or technical fields. This concept is related to Kurt Lewin's field theory, which views behavior as a function of an individual's "life space"—the combination of their needs, personality, and environment.123

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personality
Cognitive controls and styles
…studied cognitive control is called field dependence-field independence. It pertains to the extent to which people are influenced by inner (field-independent) or environmental (field-dependent) cues in orienting themselves in space and the extent to which they make fine differentiations in the environment. The more field-independent people are, the greater is…
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…studied cognitive control is called field dependence-field independence. It pertains to the extent to which people are influenced by inner (field-independent) or environmental (field-dependent) cues in orienting themselves in space and the extent to which they make fine differentiations in the environment. The more field-independent people are, the greater is…
Read More