Theory and Model Building in Psychology by Hutmacher, Fabian; Wendt, Alexander Nicolai;

Long description:

This edited volume brings together scholars from diverse theoretical traditions to present and discuss their perspective on theory-building in psychology. Amid ongoing discussions about a potential (theory) crisis in the discipline, this collection offers a timely and comprehensive overview of key debates. It serves as a foundation for further reflection and future research.

The book consists of three parts. The chapters in the first part analyse conceptual and philosophical issues underlying theory- and model-building in psychology. By contextualizing the debate with historical and interdisciplinary arguments, these chapters provide a framework for further discussion. The second part is dedicated to the challenges that emerge when inquiring into the nature of theory- and model-building in psychology. Psychology faces a unique set of meta-scientific concerns that any attempt at solution needs to recognize. Such attempts are discussed in the third part of the book. The book concludes with a final chapter, in which the individual contributions are situated within the current debate on theory- and model-building in psychology.

Chapter 4 and Chapter 21 are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Table of Contents:

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Part I: Foundational Issues in Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 1. On Theories and Models in Psychological Discourse: A Conceptual Approach (Kathleen L. Slaney).- Chapter 2. The “Oughts” and “Shoulds” of Integration in Psychology (Lisa M. Osbeck).- Chapter 3. Toward a More Accurate Notion of Exploratory Research (And Why it Matters) (Uljana Feest & Berna Devezer).- Chapter 4. Theory- and Model-Building in Experimental Psychology: Learning from Past Mistakes? (Joachim Funke).- Chapter 5. Theories and Models in Phenomenological Psychology (Alexander N. Wendt & Frederick J. Wertz).- Chapter 6. Solving the Problem of Psychology Can Help with Theory and Model Building (Gregg Henriques & Marcia Gralha).- Part II: Current Challenges for Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 7. The Unresolved Puzzle of Psychological Theories (Paul De Boeck, Jolynn Pek, Barbara Andersen, & Brandon Turner).- Chapter 8. Theory and Measurement: Why Representation is not Enough (Matthias Borgstede).- Chapter 9. Scientism in Contemporary Psychology, and its Underlying Mythic Order (Carlos Cornejo & Pablo Rojas).- Chapter 10. On Worms, Mirror Neurons and Explaining Human Behavior (Markus I. Eronen & Laura F. Bringmann).- Chapter 11. Addiction as an Example of Concept and Theory Formation in Psychology and Psychiatry: Lessons Since the 19th Century (Stephan Schleim).- Chapter 12. Theory and Practice in Psychology (Maarten Derksen).-Chapter 13. Psychological Theory, Practice, and Real-Life Circumstances: An Epistemological Analysis of Their Intersections (Nicolò Gaj).- Part III: Possible Solutions for Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 14. Mathematical Models in Theoretical Psychophysics: A Historical Perspective (Ruben Ellinghaus & Rolf Ulrich).- Chapter 15. Integrating Cultural Psychology in Theory Building in Mainstream Psychology (Gesa S. Duden & Momoka Sunohara).- Chapter 16. Psychoanalysis in the Midst of Psychology’s Crisis (Hannes Wendler & Timo Storck).- Chapter 17. The Nine Lives of Phenomenological Psychology (Henderikus J. Stam).- Chapter 18. Towards a Neuro-Environmental Lens Meta-Model of Person-Situation Transactions (Martin Peper).- Chapter 19. Historical Psychology: What is it? (Daniel Sullivan).- Chapter 20. Past and Present Historical Psychologies: How to Deal with Variation in and Plurality of Mental Architectures in Psychological Research (Noemí Pizarroso López).- Part IV: Conclusion.- Chapter 21. Theory- and Model-Building in Psychology: Mapping the Current Debate (Fabian Hutmacher & Alexander N. Wendt).