Zero-Variable Theories and the Psychology of the Explainer

by Robert A. Wicklund

Overview

In Zero-Variable Theories, Dr. Robert Wicklund invites the reader to consider the psychological perspective of the "explainer". In examining the over-simplifications that have become dominant in modern psychology, the author points to such factors as competition with other explainers and pressure to offer and promulgate a unique explanation. The explainer is characterized as equating theory with simple, fixed categories, and as defending those categories as one would defend a personal territory, fending off competing explainers through mis-use of statistical devices. The end result is the formulation of theories that neglect the perspectives of those whose behaviors are to be explained, and which simultaneously exclude psychological variables.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461279747
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	10/28/2011
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1990
Pages:	156
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.01(d)

Table of Contents

1 An Introduction to the Psychology of the Explainer.- 2 The Transition from Lacking Perspective-Taking into Theory.- 3 The Zero-Variable Theory.- 4 The Formulation of the Zero-Variable Theory.- 5 The Classification Device.- 6 Reducing the Human to a Categorized Empirical Essence.- 7 Proving the Uniqueness of One’s Own Categories.- 8 Replacing Hypothesis-Testing with “External Validity”.- 9 Frequency, Power, and Accounting for All of the Variance.- 10 Suppressing Alternative Explanations.- 11 Categories: The Good and the Bad.- 12 Directions of Development for the Zero-Variable Theory.- 13 Is the General Direction of Theoretical Development Downhill?.- 14 Bringing Psychologists to Study Individual Differences: A Stumbling Block in the Culture.- References.

Editorial Reviews

Wicklund (psychology, Universitat Bielefeld, FRG) examines the psychological grounding of the "explainer," the individual (scientist or other) who neglects the psychological perspective of those who are being explained, instead equating theory with simple, fixed categories, and defending those categories as a personal territory, fending off competing explainers through the misuse of statistical devices and the exclusion of appropriate psychological variables. Very important intradisciplinary rectification. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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