The story of Lewin-Vygotsky (Zeigarnik and possibly others) interaction is
becoming more and more interesting. There are at least two levels in which I
am interested in it: the development of their philosophical and
psychological (sociological) models and their interaction, as well as the
dynamic of that interaction and changes over time.
It seems clear that both of them knew of each other's theorizing to some
extent, very early on. When did it happen? When B. Zeigarnik went to Berlin?
Did she first bring the news of Vygotsky to Lewin, or the other way around?
Second, we know of Vygotsky's references and criticism of Lewin's theory,
but do we know about Lewin's side of the dialogue? Did Lewin ever mention
Vygotsky (or Moscow school) in his writings? What did he think about them?
and when did he think that?
For instance - the place of the symbolic function - semiotic tools - in the
cognitive development: did Lewin pay attention to that sigificant aspect of
Vygotsky's theory and what did he make out of it?
Or, it seems that Vygotsky's critique of Lewin's "a-historic" position made
an impact on Lewin and he later refined his notion of time and the role of
the past in the moment to moment cross-section of the life space. But I
didn't see an explicit reference to Vygotsky. (Of course, I haven't read all
there is to read by Lewin, either, so I may be wrong).
But it would be interesting to know how their relationship started and to
follow its subsequent development.
Thank you for the most interesting stories and facts.
Ana
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Dr. Ana Marjanovic-Shane City of Philadelphia, Office of Mental
Health/Mental Retardation
151 W. Tulpehocken St. 1101 Market St. 7th fl.
Philadelphia, PA 19144 Philadelphia, PA 19107
USA USA
phone: (215) 843-2909 phone: (215) 685-4767
fax: (215) 843-2288 fax: (215) 695-5581
e-mail: pshane who-is-at andromeda.rutgers.edu
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2253
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The 7th International Kurt Lewin Conference page:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2253/ confprg.html
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