scholarly journals The Network Theory of Psychiatric Disorders: A Critical Assessment of the Inclusion of Environmental Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina S. de Boer ◽  
Leon C. de Bruin ◽  
Jeroen J. G. Geurts ◽  
Gerrit Glas
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Multilayer Network ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Causal Mechanisms ◽  
Insight Into

Borsboom and colleagues have recently proposed a “network theory” of psychiatric disorders that conceptualizes psychiatric disorders as relatively stable networks of causally interacting symptoms. They have also claimed that the network theory should include non-symptom variables such as environmental factors. How are environmental factors incorporated in the network theory, and what kind of explanations of psychiatric disorders can such an “extended” network theory provide? The aim of this article is to critically examine what explanatory strategies the network theory that includes both symptoms and environmental factors can accommodate. We first analyze how proponents of the network theory conceptualize the relations between symptoms and between symptoms and environmental factors. Their claims suggest that the network theory could provide insight into the causal mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders. We assess these claims in light of network analysis, Woodward’s interventionist theory, and mechanistic explanation, and show that they can only be satisfied with additional assumptions and requirements. Then, we examine their claim that network characteristics may explain the dynamics of psychiatric disorders by means of a topological explanatory strategy. We argue that the network theory could accommodate topological explanations of symptom networks, but we also point out that this poses some difficulties. Finally, we suggest that a multilayer network account of psychiatric disorders might allow for the integration of symptoms and non-symptom factors related to psychiatric disorders and could accommodate both causal/mechanistic and topological explanations.

Network analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 73 (7) ◽  
pp. 630-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Löblich ◽  
Senta Pfaff-Rüdiger
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Communication Policy ◽  
Youth Protection ◽  
Insight Into

Structures of interest, influence and power in communication policy are shifting due to increasing digitization, economization and globalization. Against this background it is necessary to reflect more than before upon methods to study the relations between actors and their potential influences on regulation processes. The article explains qualitative network analysis as a research strategy for communication policy research and discusses qualitative interviews and network cards as research tools to put network analysis into practice. The theoretical basis consists of governance and network theory. The article focuses on an analysis of the German youth protection system, which provides practical insight into a qualitative network study.

scholarly journals Symbiotic Vs Commensal Networking: the Case of Textile SMEs in China and Russia

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43
Author(s):  
Andrey Mikhailitchenko ◽  
Anna Sadovnikova
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
International Business ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Business Studies ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Insight Into

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the literature addressing the characteristics of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) based on the sample drawn from two emerging economies – China and Russia. The study investigates the intensity and typology of networking activities that SMEs are involved in. The research contributes to the field by empirically investigating, testing, and putting into a unified framework the measurement tools required for identifying symbiotic and commensal types of SMEs’ networking interactions. It also provides an insight into attitudinal, managerial, cultural, and environmental factors that condition these two types of networking and influence SMEs’ willingness to globalize their operations and thus make their networks international. The overriding framework of the study can be stated as developing, validating and testing the symbiotic networking concept relatively to the international business studies. In this way, the study contributes to overcoming the criticism that network theory is not predictive by nature and is not testable.

Population and Family Studies in Depression and Mania

1988 ◽  
Vol 153 (S3) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mendlewicz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Molecular Genetics ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Affective Illness ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Insight Into

Recent progress in molecular genetics and neurobiology has attracted much attention and provided a new insight into the nature-nurture controversy in respect of the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. Affective illness, including the various subtypes of depressive and manic syndromes, has been the subject of a considerable amount of research on the relative importance of hereditary and environmental factors. This paper provides a critical review of the most relevant literature on the genetics of depression and mania.

A performative network theory of attitudes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Quayle
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Change ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Social Group ◽  
Group Structure ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Bipartite Network ◽  
Identity Change ◽  
Multilayer Network ◽  
Dynamic Phenomena

In this paper I propose a network theory of attitudes where attitude agreements and disagreements forge a multilayer network structure that simultaneously binds people into groups (via attitudes) and attitudes into clusters (via people who share them). This theory proposes that people have a range of possible attitudes (like cards in a hand) but these only become meaningful when expressed (like a card played). Attitudes are expressed with sensitivity to their potential audiences and are socially performative: when we express attitudes, or respond to those expressed by others, we tell people who we are, what groups we might belong to and what to think of us. Agreement and disagreement can be modelled as a bipartite network that provides a psychological basis for perceived ingroup similarity and outgroup difference and, more abstractly, group identity. Opinion-based groups and group-related opinions are therefore co-emergent dynamic phenomena. Dynamic fixing occurs when particular attitudes become associated with specific social identities. The theory provides a framework for understanding identity ecosystems in which social group structure and attitudes are co-constituted. The theory describes how attitude change is also identity change. This has broad relevance across disciplines and applications concerned with social influence and attitude change.

scholarly journals Visualising Ostia’s Processional Landscape Through a Multi-Layered Computational Approach: Case Study of the Cult of the Magna Mater

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 444-467
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Computational Approach ◽  
Urban Network ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Agent Based Modelling ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Layered Approach ◽  
Religious Landscape ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractOstia, the ancient port of Rome, had a rich religious landscape. How processional rituals further contributed to this landscape, however, has seen little consideration. This is largely due to a lack of evidence that attests to the routes taken by processional rituals. The present study aims to address existing problems in studying processions by questioning what factors motivated processional movement routes. A novel computational approach that integrates GIS, urban network analysis, and agent-based modelling is introduced. This multi-layered approach is used to question how spectators served as attractors in the creation of a processional landscape using Ostia’s Campo della Magna Mater as a case study. The analysis of these results is subsequently used to gain new insight into how a greater processional landscape was created surrounding the sanctuary of the Magna Mater.

scholarly journals The Communication of Ideas across Subfields in Political Science

2014 ◽  
Vol 47 (02) ◽  
pp. 468-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Graham ◽  
Charles R. Shipan ◽  
Craig Volden
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Diffusion Processes ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Levels Of Integration

ABSTRACTWhat factors inhibit or facilitate cross-subfield conversations in political science? This article draws on diffusion scholarship to gain insight into cross-subfield communication. Diffusion scholarship represents a case where such communication might be expected, given that similar diffusion processes are analyzed in American politics, comparative politics, and international relations. We identify nearly 800 journal articles published on diffusion within political science between 1958 and 2008. Using network analysis we investigate the degree to which three “common culprits”—terminology, methodological approach, and journal type—influence levels of integration. We find the highest levels of integration among scholars using similar terms to describe diffusion processes, sharing a methodological approach (especially in quantitative scholarship), and publishing in a common set of subfield journals. These findings shed light on when cross-subfield communication is likely to occur with ease and when barriers may prove prohibitive.

scholarly journals The South African Banking Director Network: An Investigation Into Interlocking Directorships Using Social Network Analysis (SNA)

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 963
Author(s):  
Burgert A. Senekal ◽  
Karlien Stemmet
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
South African ◽  
Complex Network ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Complex Network Theory ◽  
International Trends ◽  
Director Network

The theory of complex systems has gained significant ground in recent years, and with it, complex network theory has become an essential approach to complex systems. This study follows international trends in examining the interlocking South African bank director network using social network analysis (SNA), which is shown to be a highly connected social network that has ties to many South African industries, including healthcare, mining, and education. The most highly connected directors and companies are identified, along with those that are most central to the network, and those that serve important bridging functions in facilitating network coherence. As this study is exploratory, numerous suggestions are also made for further research.

scholarly journals The mutual specification of genres and audiences: Reflective two-mode centralities in person-to-culture data

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Lizardo
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Empirical Analysis ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Cultural Sociology ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Cultural Choices ◽  
The Empirical Analysis

Recent developments at the intersection of cultural sociology and network theory suggest that the relations between persons and the cultural forms they consume can be productively analyzed using conceptual resources and methods adapted from network analysis. In this paper I seek to contribute to this developing line of thinking on the culture-networks link as it pertains to the sociology of taste. I present a general analytic and measurement framework useful for rethinking traditional survey (or population) based data on individuals and their cultural choices as a “two mode” persons X genres network. The proposed methodological tools allow me to develop a set of “reflective” metrics useful for ranking both persons and genres in terms of the pattern of choices and audience composition embedded in the cultural network. The empirical analysis shows that these metrics have both face and criterion validity, allowing us to extract useful information that would remain out of reach of standard quantitative strategies. I close by outlining the analytic and substantive implications of the approach.

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