Dynamical minimalism: why less is more in psychology

Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc
Andrzej Nowak

Abstract

The principle of parsimony, embraced in all areas of science, states that simple explanations are preferable to complex explanations in theory construction. Parsimony, however, can necessitate a trade-off with depth and richness in understanding. The approach of dynamical minimalism avoids this trade-off. The goal of this approach is to identify the simplest mechanisms and fewest variables capable of producing the phenomenon in question. A dynamical model in which change is produced by simple rules repetitively interacting with each other can exhibit unexpected and complex properties. It is thus possible to explain complex psychological and social phenomena with very simple models if these models are dynamic. In dynamical minimalist theories, then, the principle of parsimony can be followed without sacrificing depth in understanding. Computer simulations have proven especially useful for investigating the emergent properties of simple models.

References

Aug 11, 1989·Science·K D MillerM P Stryker
Oct 9, 1986·Nature·S Sutherland
Jun 1, 1966·The Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics·B S Guttman
Apr 1, 1982·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J J Hopfield
May 1, 1996·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·E R Smith
Oct 15, 1989·Physical Review A: General Physics·M Lewenstein, A Nowak
Jan 9, 1989·Physical Review Letters·M Lewenstein, A Nowak
Feb 25, 2000·Psychological Review·A NowakW Borkowski
Mar 29, 2000·Scientific American·E Bonabeau, G Théraulaz
Aug 23, 2003·Science·Joann Stock
Jan 1, 1994·IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks·G V Puskorius, L A Feldkamp
Oct 1, 1996·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·A J van Opstal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 27, 2015·Psychological Science·Andrzej NowakIvan Hernandez
Aug 23, 2018·The British Journal of Social Psychology·Andrzej Nowak, Robin R Vallacher
Jun 30, 2019·Personality and Social Psychology Review : an Official Journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc·Michael Muthukrishna, Mark Schaller
Jun 7, 2017·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Jonathan E ButnerDeborah J Wiebe
Sep 15, 2020·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Emmanuelle TognoliJ A Scott Kelso

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.