Psychological Theories from a Structuralist Point of View

Metatheoretical and, more generally, methodological analyses of psychological problems and theories have a long tradition; however, their impact on scientific practice, especially on the clarification and testing of existing psychological theories and the formulation of new ones, has so far been less than spectacular. The increased interest in theoretical psychology visible during the past ten or twenty years is associated with the hope that a change of this situation will gradually be effected. Thus, in their preface to the proceedings of the founding conference of The International Society for Theoretical Psychology, Baker et al. (1987, pp. Vf)1 take up 2 once more the objectives of a theoretical psychology formulated by Koch already in 1951: (a) Education in the methodology and logic of science. (b) Analysis of methodological or foundational problems that are more or less unique to psychology. . .. (c) Internal systematization of suggestive, but formally defective, theoretical formulations. (d) Intertranslation and differential analysis of conflicting theoretical formulations. ( e) Construction of new theory. Reflecting on possible reasons for the relative inefficacy so far of methodological and metatheoretical analyses in psychology, it seems to me that the following two have been of prime importance: (1) Many of the existing analyses are at best tenuously connected to concrete existing psychological theories, i.e., they deal with their subject matter in a too abstract, detached way. This detracts from the persuasive power which their results might otherwise have, and impedes the realization of these results within scientific practice.

Inhalt
1. Psychological Theories from a Structuralist Point of View: A First Introduction.- What is Structuralism?.- Central Concepts of the Structuralist Approach.- Applications of the Structuralist Program in Psychology.- References.- 2. A Reconstruction of Sigmund Freud's Early Theory of the Unconscious.- Freud's Basic Picture.- Potential Models and Models.- Neurosis.- Constraints, Links, Measuring Models.- Intended Applications.- Empirical Claim and Confirmation.- References.- 3. Festinger's Theory of Cognitive Dissonance: A Revised Structural Reconstruction.- The Basic Element.- A Theory-Net.- Theory and Experiment.- References.- 4. A Net of Psychological Utility Theories.- The Theory-Net.- Concluding Discussion.- Technical Appendix.- References.- 5. Anderson's Theory of Cognitive Architecture (ACT*): Towards a Structuralist Reconstruction of Some Important Theory-Elements.- The Basic Element.- An Experimental Element.- The Central Element.- A Preliminary Theory-Net.- References.- 6. Structuralism as a Method of Theory Construction: The Example of the Social Psychological Role Conflict Theory.- Some General Methodological Notes.- The Role Conflict Theory.- The Generalization of the Role Conflict Theory.- General Conclusions.- References.- 7. The Theory of Behavior Interaction: A Structuralist Construction of a Theory and a Reconstruction of its Theoretical Environment.- Basic Concepts and Assumptions of the Theory.- Theory-Element Behavior Interaction.- Theory-Element Behavior Interaction in Small Groups.- Theory-Element Behavior Interaction in Dyads.- Theory-Element Behavior Interaction in Triads.- Links to the Theory of Behavior Interaction.- Theory-Element Indifference Structure.- Link to the Theory of Indifference Structures.-Theory-Element Coding Structure.- Link to the Theory of Coding Structures.- Theory-Element Observation Structure.- The Theory of Behavior Interaction as Part of a Theory-Ho1on.- References.- 8. Interruption of Action and Stress: A Structuralist Approach.- Intended Applications.- Basic Theory-Element.- Potential Models and Models Concerning Stress by Waiting Times.- Variability Hypothesis.- Variability Hypothesis and Exponential Distributions.- Duration Hypothesis.- Theoreticity and Statistical Testing.- Appendix: Proofs of the Theorems 3, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 25.- References.- Author Index.- List of Contributors.

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