Theory & Psychology current issue

Measurement Theory, Psychology and the Revolution That Cannot Happen

Trendler, G. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

Doubt is raised that revolutions in measurement theory, for example conjoint measurement or Rasch measurement, will lead to the quantification of psychological attributes. First, the meaning of measurement is explained. Relying on this, it is demonstrated that in order to attain quantification under causally complex circumstances it is necessary to manipulate the phenomena involved and control systematic disturbances. The construction of experimental apparatus is necessary to accomplish these tasks. The creation of modern quantitative science through the adoption of this method is called the Galilean revolution. Next the Millean quantity objection is formulated. If the Galilean revolution is not possible in psychology, the task of quantification is not solvable. The objection is defended. Psychological phenomena are neither manipulable nor controllable to the required extent. Therefore they are not measurable.

Value Formation of Basic Anthropological Connectivities: A General Political-Psychological Model

Bertelsen, P. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

Human beings live and thrive in surroundings based on the human condition of certain basic anthropological connectivities. Amongst the vital political life, tasks can be mentioned establishing, maintaining and critically/ conformably developing these basic conditions and their political value formations. In this regard, the interdisciplinary contribution of psychology is to explore how humans as active participants can and will participate in handling such value tasks. The article presents a general, theoretical, political-psychological model, which unites precisely these two aspects: the political value formations of the basic anthropological conditions in human life, and the capability and will to participate in solving the subsequent value tasks.

The Epistemic Benefits of Reason Giving

Bortolotti, L. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

There is an apparent tension in current accounts of the relationship between reason giving and self-knowledge. Philosophers like Richard Moran (2001) claim that deliberation and justification can give rise to first-person authority over the attitudes that subjects form or defend on the basis of what they take to be their best reasons. On the other hand, the psychological evidence on introspection effects and the literature on elusive reasons suggest that engaging in explicit deliberation or justification leads subjects to report attitudes that are not consistent with their previous attitudes or with their future behavior. On the basis of these findings, Tim Wilson (2002) argues that analyzing reasons compromises self-knowledge. I shall defend a realistic account of the effects of reason giving which is compatible with the empirical findings on introspection and also with the claim that deliberation and justification have epistemic benefits.

On Power, Freedom, and Gender: A Fruitful Tension between Foucault and Feminism

Amigot, P., Pujal, M. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

In this article we highlight some aspects of Foucault’s work that are useful for analyzing the processes of subjective production and relations of power marked by gender, understood as dispositifs. Feminist theories and practices offer fundamental resources both for the development of the Foucauldian perspective itself, and for the analysis and transformation of power relations. In relation to the tension between power and freedom, we highlight the importance of two issues: first, the intermediate space between states of domination and power relations—a distinction established by Foucault—which makes possible a more precise consideration of the dispositif of gender as well as its transformation; second, the relation between practices of the self and power relations, which makes it possible to identify the conditions of possibility for the exercise of resistance and freedom.

The Physics and Chemistry of Personality

McCrae, R. R. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

Physics and chemistry, two basic natural sciences, are today seamlessly integrated, but for much of their history they were separate enterprises with distinct methods and goals. Physicists have consistently sought simplicity and mathematical rigor, whereas chemists seem to have been fascinated by the challenges of complexity. Parallels between these two sciences and the two major branches of contemporary personality psychology are described in an attempt to put in perspective the daunting enterprise of constructing a unified science of human nature.

The Conceptual Connection between Lens Models and Fast and Frugal Heuristics: A Process Approach

Katsikopoulos, K. V. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

I explore the conceptual connection between two judgment- and decision-making research programs: social judgment theory and fast and frugal heuristics. I point out that a main difference is in the modeling of the cues-to-criterion function that describes the organism (lens in Brunswikian jargon). Social judgment theorists typically use linear models while the fast and frugal program employs heuristics. I ask two questions: Can fast and frugal heuristics play the role of lenses? Which lens can model fast and frugal heuristics? I synthesize previous work and extend it with new analyses that focus on processes. First, I argue that fast and frugal heuristics can play the role of lenses because they can model the process of successful vicarious functioning. Second, I argue that a compensatory lens should be used for modeling the outcomes of heuristics and that a noncompensatory lens is more appropriate for modeling the cognitive processes postulated by heuristics.

Review: The Defense of Situationalism in the Age of Abu Ghraib: PHILIP ZIMBARDO, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. New York: Random House, 2007. ISBN 9781588365873 (e-book). 2008. ISBN 9780812974447 (pbk)

Brannigan, A. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

Review: What Would Freud Think?: JEROME A. WINER & JAMES WILLIAM ANDERSON, Spirituality and Religion: Psychoanalytic Perspectives. Catskill, NY: Mental Health Resources, 2007. 300 pp. ISBN: 9780979434112 (hbk)

Freeman, M. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT

Review: Searching for Truth: The Play's the Thing: KEN ALDER, The Lie Detectors: The History of an American Obsession. New York: Free Press, 2007. 337 pp. ISBN 0743259882 (hbk)

Barenbaum, N. B. — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:47:21 PDT