Theory and Practice

When Kurt Lewin proposed that “there is nothing so practical as a good theory,” he intended to encourage the development of the kind of theory that can be used for the solution of social problems. He believed that such a theory would have to meet three requirements: (a) behavior should be conceived as the product of an interdependent field of determinants, (b) explanatory concepts should refer to the situation as it exists for the individual whose behavior is to be explained, and (c) causes of behavior should be viewed as contemporaneous with behavior itself. Lewin's adherence to these requirements led him progressively to broaden his conception of the life space to encompass an increasing range of determinants that originate in the social, political, economic, and technological environment. It is argued here that the development of social psychology has, on the contrary, become progressively restricted to processes occurring within individuals and that, as a result, social psychological theory is unable to contribute optimally to the improvement of social practice.