scholarly journals Reasons Things Happen for a Reason: An Integrative Theory of Teleology

2021 ◽  
pp. 174569162199575
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intentional Stance ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Teleological Reasoning ◽  
Intentional Systems ◽  
Scientific Ideas ◽  
Design Stance

Humans default to functions and purposes when asked to explain the existence of mysterious phenomena. Our penchant for teleological reasoning is associated with good outcomes, such as finding meaning in misfortune, but also with bad outcomes, such as dangerous conspiracy theories and misunderstood scientific ideas, both of which pose important social and health problems. Psychological research into the teleological default has long alluded to Daniel Dennett’s intentional-systems theory but has not fully engaged with the three intellectual stances at its core (intentional, design, physical). This article distinguishes the intentional stance from the design stance, which untangles some of the present knots in theories of teleology, accounts for diverse forms of teleology, and enhances predictions of when teleological reasoning is more likely to occur. This article examines the evidence for a teleological default considering Dennett’s intentional-systems theory, proposes a process model, and clarifies current theoretical debates. It argues that people rationally and often thoughtfully use teleological reasoning in relation to both cognitive and social psychological factors. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Reasons Things Happen for a Reason: An Integrative Theory of Teleology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Scott
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intentional Stance ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Teleological Reasoning ◽  
Intentional Systems ◽  
Scientific Ideas ◽  
Design Stance

Humans default to functions and purposes when asked to explain the existence ofmysterious phenomena. Our penchant for teleological reasoning is associated with good outcomes such as finding meaning in misfortune, but also with bad outcomes such as dangerous conspiracy theories and misunderstood scientific ideas, both of which pose important social and health problems. Psychological research into the teleological default has long alluded to Daniel Dennett's intentional systems theory but has not fully engaged with the three intellectual stances at its core (intentional, design, physical). This article distinguishes the intentional stance from the design stance, which untangles some of the present knots in theories of teleology, accounts for diverse forms of teleology, and enhances predictions of when teleological reasoning is more likely to occur. This article examines the evidence for a teleological default considering Dennett’s intentional systems theory, proposes a process model, and clarifies current theoretical debates. It argues that people rationally and often thoughtfully use teleological reasoning in relation to both cognitive and social psychological factors. Implications for theory and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Collective Psychological Ownership and Intergroup Relations

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1021-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maykel Verkuyten ◽  
Borja Martinovic
Keyword(s):  
Collective Identity ◽  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Psychological Ownership ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
The Social ◽  
Local Contexts ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Group Responsibility

Whereas much social psychological research has studied the in-group and out-group implications of social categorization and collective identity (“we”), little research has examined the nature and relevance of collective psychological ownership (“ours”) for intergroup relations. We make a case for considering collective psychological ownership as an important source of intergroup tensions. We do so by integrating theory and research from various social sciences, and we draw out implications for future social psychological research on intergroup relations. We discuss collective psychological ownership in relation to the psychology of possessions, marking behavior, intergroup threats, outgroup exclusion, and in-group responsibility. We suggest that the social psychological processes discussed apply to a range of ownership objects (territory, buildings, cultural artifacts) and various intergroup settings, including international, national, and local contexts, and in organizations and communities. We conclude by providing directions for future research in different intergroup contexts.

Illusions of Consciousness

Dialogue ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 769-776
Author(s):  
Stewart Nicolson
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Mental Content ◽  
Intentional Stance ◽  
The Third ◽  
To Come ◽  
Intentional Systems

Daniel Dennett's theory of mind divides into two parts: a theory of mental content, which is provided by his intentional systems theory, and a theory of consciousness, the latest presentation of which is brought together in an exciting recent work, Consciousness Explained. This book, combined with his 1987 The Intentional Stance, constitutes the third execution of Dennett's overall program, the first two being Content and Consciousness (1969) and Brainstorms (1978). Consciousness Explained is a veritable treasure of fascinating ideas, fresh perspectives and striking illustrations, many of which are sure to be much discussed by philosophers in years to come.

“In the Minds of Men . . .”: Social Representations of War and Military Intervention

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Christopher Cohrs ◽  
Emma O'Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Military Intervention ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Military Interventions ◽  
Historical Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Meanings ◽  
Social Psychological Research

This chapter reviews research on representations of war and military intervention, primarily situated in two different social psychological research traditions: individual attitudes and social representations. The former has approached the object of investigation by studying the cognitive and affective correlates, more general predictors, and behavioral consequences of individuals’ support (vs. rejection) of war or military intervention. The latter focuses to a greater extent on contextual and historical processes that influence the social meanings attached to war and military intervention; in this approach attitudes are just one (evaluative) component of social representations—and differences between individuals and groups may be attributed to the various functions social representations fulfill. We thus adopt the broader social representations approach. Based on this, the chapter closes by drawing implications for strategies to change individual attitudes, as well as representations of war and military interventions, and by offering questions for future research.

On The Credibility Of GAAP: Do Preparers, Auditors, And Users See Eye To Eye?

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas K. Schneider ◽  
Gordon S. May ◽  
David R. Shaffer
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Accounting Standard ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Setting Process ◽  
Social Psychological Research

<span>The purpose of this study was to apply social-psychological research methods to address an issue in the development of general accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Of concern to the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) in the development of GAAP is the attitudes of its constituent groups with respect to the credibility of GAAP. Our main objective was to assess any differences in the credibility perception of GAAP, as indicated by the three main groups of FASB constituents: corporate preparers of financial statements (preparers), CPAs who audit financial reports to ensure their adherence to GAAP (auditors), and accountants who us financial reports to make lending and investment decisions (users). The results indicated that auditors perception of the credibility of GAAP along eight credibility dimensions was significantly different than that of preparers and users of financial reporting. These results are important to the standard setting process because they indicate a lack of consensus among the three main FASB constituent groups, and may indicate an elevation of auditor views over those of users and preparers. Some implications of these results and suggestions for future research are discussed.</span>

Interactions with Artificial Entities Reloaded: 20 Years of Research from a Social Psychological Perspective

i-com ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-262
Author(s):  
Nicole Krämer ◽  
Gary Bente
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Moderating Variables ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Embodied Agent ◽  
Social Psychological Perspective

Abstract Twenty years ago, we reflected on the potential of psychological research in the area of embodied conversational agents and systematized the variables that need to be considered in empirical studies. We gave an outlook on potential and necessary research by taking into account the independent variables behavior and appearance of the embodied agent, by referring to the dependent variables acceptance, efficiency and effects on behavior and summarizing moderating variables such as task and individual differences. Twenty years later, we now give an account on what has been found and how the field has developed – suggesting avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Understanding How and Why Spatial Segregation Endures: A Systematic Review of Recent Research on Intergroup Relations at a Micro-Ecological Scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonor Bettencourt ◽  
John Dixon ◽  
Paula Castro
Keyword(s):  
Intergroup Relations ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Social Categories ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Ecological Scale ◽  
Ecological Patterns ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Urban Places

Social psychological research has increasingly extolled the benefits of intergroup contact as a means of promoting positive relations. However, a growing body of research suggests that formal policies of desegregation are often offset by informal ‘micro-ecological’ practices of (re)-segregation, in everyday life spaces. This paper presents a systematic literature review of recent evidence on this topic (2001-2017), outlining key findings about how, when, where, and why micro-ecological divisions are reproduced. Informal segregation can happen based on ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, gender, or gender and ethnicity, despite people being in a shared place. People generally maintain patterns of ingroup isolation as a result of: a) negative attitudes and stereotypes; b) ingroup identification and threat; or c) feelings of anxiety, fear and insecurity. Educational settings have been the main context studied, followed by leisure and recreational places, public urban places and public transport. The paper also identifies three areas of potential future research, highlighting the need to: (1) capitalise on methodological innovations; (2) explore systematically how, when and why the intersectionality of social categories may shape micro-ecological practices of contact and separation; and (3) understand more fully why micro-ecological patterns of segregation are apparently so persistent, as well as how they might be reduced.

Interculturalism and the Acceptance of Minority Groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maykel Verkuyten ◽  
Kumar Yogeeswaran
Keyword(s):  
Minority Groups ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Situational Effect

Abstract. Multiculturalism has been criticized and rejected by an increasing number of politicians, and social psychological research has shown that it can lead to outgroup stereotyping, essentialist thinking, and negative attitudes. Interculturalism has been proposed as an alternative diversity ideology, but there is almost no systematic empirical evidence about the impact of interculturalism on the acceptance of migrants and minority groups. Using data from a survey experiment conducted in the Netherlands, we examined the situational effect of promoting interculturalism on acceptance. The results show that for liberals, but not for conservatives, interculturalism leads to more positive attitudes toward immigrant-origin groups and increased willingness to engage in contact, relative to multiculturalism.

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