Psychological and social structures / Sandra B. Brent.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brent, Sandor B., author.

Series:

Psychology revivals.

Psychology Revivals

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychology--Philosophy.

Psychology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (331 pages).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; New York, New York : Routledge, 2020.

Summary:

Originally published in 1984, this work is organised in three parts. Part 1 explores what a structure is. Part 2 critically explores the dynamic (energic) conceptualization of psychological and social phenomena. Part 3 brings all these earlier considerations to bear upon the processes by which these structures grow and develop.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Original Title Page

Original Copyright Page

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

General Introduction

The Place of Psychology in the Hierarchy of the Sciences

The Organization of the Present Work

Part I: Form, Function, and Organization: The Statics of Structural Theory

Chapter 1: The Concept of Structure

Systems and Structures

The Boundaries of a Structure

Form and Content

Form and Information

Some Auxiliary Concepts

Choosing a Level of Analysis

Summary

Chapter 2: Function and Content

Context

Function

Coupling

The Appropriateness of Content to Context

Classifying and Comparing of Structures by their Functions

Chapter 3: Macrocosmic Form and Microcosmic Constraint

Idiogenic Constraints

Interactional Constraints

Collective Constraints

Contextual Constraints

Interactions Among Constraints

Chapter 4: Hierarchic Forms of Organization

The Basic Hierarchic Form

Interactional Hierarchies

Synechdochic Hierarchies

Degrees of Hierarchic Organization

Advantages and Limitations of the Hierarchic Form

Chapter 5: The Nucleate Form of Organization

The Nucleate Gradient Form of Representation

Centrality and Functional Distance

More Complex Nucleate Forms

Special Properties of the Nucleate Form

Chapter 6: The Concept of Organization

Four Criteria of Organization

Macroscopic Organization and Microscopic Constraint in Colonies of Tropical American Army Ants

Single Organisms and Organismic Collectives

Part II: Energy, Activity, and Change: The Steady-State Dynamics of Structural Theory

Chapter 7: Energy-Information Linkages

The Concept of Energy

Football Sunday Afternoon.

The Energic Distinctiveness of Psychological and Social Systems

Levels of Linkage

Extensions and Limitations of this Approach

Chapter 8: Stability, Form, and Flexibility

A Basic Thermodynamic Approach

Some Thermodynamic Aspects of Unstructured Systems

Some Thermodynamic Aspects of Structured Systems

Psychological and Social Bonds

Chapter 9: Conformation, Information, and Adaptation

Conformations and Discrepancies

Templating and Resistance

Objects and Objectivity

Chapter 10: Activity States of a Structure

A Taxonomy of Activity States

Changes in State and Changes in Form

Steady-State Range and Rate of Development

Part III: Growth and Development: The Developmental Dynamics of Structural Theory

Chapter 11: The Concept of Development

Development as a Change in Form

Development as a Directional Process

Development as a Dialectical Process

Chapter 12: The Levels-by-Stages Model

The Intrastructural Model

The Transition Between Stages

The Intergenerational Model

Chapter 13: Some Controversial Issues Concerning Levels and Stages

The Controversy Over Levels

The Controversy Over Stages

The Controversy Over Critical Periods

The Controversy Over Regression

The Controversy Over Recapitulation

Chapter 14: The Orthogenetic Ordering Principle

The Orthogenetic Ordering of Steady-State Structures

Chapter 15: Primordial Integration: Independence, Coaction, and Interaction

The General Model for Primordial Integration

Functional Independence of the Precursors

The Coactive Form

The Interactive Form

Chapter 16: Primordial Integration: Partial and Full Integration

The Partially Integrated Form

Completing the Process of Integration.

The Interstructural Medium

Chapter 17: Differentiation and Specialization

Partitioning the Primordial Field

The Process of Specialization

The Interlocking of Differentiation and Integration

Functional Autonomy

Chapter 18: Change in Size and Change in Form

Class Size and Classroom Organization

Upper Boundary Phenomena of the Steady-State Range

An Informational and Attentional Model of Cohesiveness and Efficiency

Generalizations, Extensions, and Limitations

Epilogue

Conclusion

Appendix

Changes in the Flow-Pattern of Vehicular Traffic as a Function of Changes in Traffic Density

References

Author Index

Subject Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-000-08969-X

OCLC:

1195823249