Lewin/Schein's Change Theory

Kurt Lewin theorized a three-stage model of change that has come to be known as theunfreezing-change-refreeze model that requires prior learning to be rejected and replaced. The significance of this theory was the positioning of individual and organizational change within thecontext of psychological processes that requires prior learning to be rejected and replaced with anew foundation. Edgar Schein provided further detail for a more comprehensive model of change calling this approach “cognitive redefinition.” He stated “If you have been trained to think in a certain way and are a member of a group that thinks the same way, how can you imagine changing to a new way of thinking?”