Britannica AI Icon

life space

psychology
Also known as: lifespace

Quick Summary

In psychology, field theory is a conceptual model of human behavior developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin. Lewin's theory emphasizes an individual's needs, personality, and motivating forces, treating psychology as a social science.

He proposed a "life space," a psychological field encompassing a person's experiences and needs, which becomes more complex with experience. Lewin used topology to map relationships within this life space, representing psychological forces and pathways toward goals. He believed that individuals strive for equilibrium with their environment, and tension (a need) drives activity to restore balance. Lewin also applied his field theory to social psychology through his work on group dynamics.

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. field theory
  2. Kurt Lewin

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.