Lewin's equation
Lewin's equation, B = f(P, E), is not actually a mathematical equation representing quantifiable relationships but rather a heuristic formula designed by psychologist Kurt Lewin.
Description
The formula states that behavior is a function of the person and his or her environment:[1]
Where 
is behavior, 
is Person, and 
is the environment.
The equation is the psychologist's most well known formula in social psychology, of which Lewin was a modern pioneer. When first presented in Lewin's book Principles of Topological Psychology, published in 1936, it contradicted most popular theories in that it gave importance to a person's momentary situation in understanding his or her behavior, rather than relying entirely on the past.[2]
Further reading
- Lewin, Kurt (1943). Defining the "Field at a Given Time." Psychological Review, 50, 292–310.
References
- ↑ The Sage Handbook of Methods in Social Psychology: Lewin's equation
- ↑ Christian Balkenius (1995). Natural Intelligence in Artificial Creatures. Lund University Cognitive Studies 37. (ISBN 91-628-1599-7): Chapter 4 – Reactive Behavior
External links
- Lewin, Sticky Minds