Kurt Lewin Part 2

A third experiment had to do with Level of Aspiration per Lewin, Dembo, Tamara, Festinger and Sears. In this case, a self-set goal was determined by success or failure of reaching the goal. Goal success increased the challenge. Imagine performing a high jump with the bar set at a certain height. With repeated success [balance, stabilizing, or constancy] at that certain height, the bar can be raised [dynamic equilibrium creating new tension] with a new positive valence, more difficult goal to accomplish. In the NBA, winning the game, winning the series, and winning the championship are example of goals, goal attainment, and equilibrium changes. Success or goal completion reduces the tension, thus achieving homeostasis.

My first ultra was a 50 K in 1997. Then, I heard about the 100 mile one day Western States event. Before I could complete that positive valence goal, I had to qualify by running in a 50 mile competition race. With success at the 50 K, and the 50 mile run, the Western States became my next level of aspiration. With success for that goal, I reached homeostasis. Now, I can choose and have other positive valence goals for other running events. Yes, creating tension and challenges are important.

Leon Festinger, another of Kurt Lewin’s doctoral students, postulated a theory of Cognitive Dissonance.  Within motivational dynamics, attitude, beliefs, ego involvement are significant. If information is consonant with one’s attitudes, beliefs etc., there is an absence of tension or dissonance. If the information is dissonant however, there arises dynamic tension with motivation to reduce the tension.

Employing Festinger’s theory to some of the recent behavior of Atty. Gen. Barr, I found the following.  Initially, Barr reported that he did not read the entire Mueller report with all its substantiating evidence nor did he testify before a second congressional judiciary hearing. The Mueller report and the congressional hearing was dissonant to Barr’s with his attitude and beliefs etc. regarding indicting a sitting president; his loyalty and protection for the president; his standing within the Republican Party; his position and legal opinion as Atty. Gen. and the well-being of his supporters. The report in question, with all its negatives and wrongdoing regarding the behavior of the president and his loyalist’s followers coupled with questions by attending the Congressional committee would result in too much tension or dissonance. Behaviorally, to not read all the evidence and to avoid the congressional judiciary hearing, allowed the dissonance to be dissipated broadly speaking.  Of course, a more complete account employing field theory constructs would include the totality of the perception of Barr’s psychological facts, his complex energy field with all the identified psychological forces, and their particular interactions within his life space. However, that’s beyond the scope of this post.

Needs, tension reduction, interrupted tasks {non-closure}, satiation, level of aspiration and, cognitive dissonance are significant motivational concepts that add knowledge regarding human behavior. Thank you, Dr. Kurt Lewin for your significant insights and contributions to the study of psychology.