Kurt Lewin

Balance, regulation or homeostasis had been established per physiologist Cannon and biologist Selye and others.  Freud’s model incorporated drive reduction of instincts or impulses .Further, Kurt Lewin’s Field Theory model also applied tension reduction as motivational in his examination of human behavior as well.

According to Lewin, a need created a hypothetical state of tension within the individual or person.  Tension was reduced with the Individual by his locomotion or movement toward the goal. Without going into detail regarding life space, psychological environment, goal attainment, permeability of boundaries, part -whole relationships, vectors etc., the goal might have had positive or negative valence characteristics attached to it. There also might be obstacles, barriers, hurdles that have to be navigated or reached by going over, under or through to accomplish the goal.  The research examples that follow illustrate his drive reduction hypothesis model.

Zeigarnik, in her experiments, had children perform a series of tasks. On some of the tasks, the students were interrupted [unsuccessful goal attainment] before they finished the particular assignment. On the other tasks, the students were allowed to complete [successful goal attainment] the assignment. The students were then asked, to recall all the tasks. Statistically, the interrupted or unsuccessful tasks were remembered the most. In essence, the completion or success of the goal reduced the tension and a homeostasis state was reached. With non-completion or a non-success state, motivation and tension still remained and the task was remembered. Just think of a weekly TV series, serial or show. Tension exists. In order to remove the suspense or tension, we have to view the next episode or outcome.  With the absence of suspense or drama, there is an absence of tension. We then have reached balance or homeostasis.

Karsten’s experiment had to do with drawing a simple version of a cat. The cat had a circle for its head, a larger circle for its body, two triangles or ears on the head, and a single line or tail coming from the body or larger circle. The subjects were asked to copy or draw the cat on paper until told to stop. Without fail, the subjects drew the cat over and over, going from left to right in a relatively neat straight line. After a while, the drawings changed dramatically and were distorted by becoming smaller, larger, and no longer on a straight line. It’s clear that boredom, interfered with the task or goal. Initially, the goal had a positive valence but it became a negative valence over time {repetition}, as tension was reduced.  Going from a positive to a negative valence was called satiation. Satiation or drive reduction with lousy work performance was clearly exhibited by workers on an automotive assembly line. Workers frequently were late, missed work, and used drugs and alcohol to combat the effects of satiation from repetition. In fact the Japanese automakers, Incorporated a team approach with communication, group cohesion etc. to reduce the dynamics of satiation and poor performance. Teachers also destroy interest in learning by employing monotonous or repetitive classroom and homework assignments that result in satiation.

To Be Continued