Crisis” and “re-foundation” of psychology – outmoded topics of theoretical-psychological discourse?

In the 1970-80ies critical assessments of the problematic state of psychology as science were flourishing, stressing the theoretical disintegration and practical irrelevance of psychological basic research and connecting both defects to a misplaced dependence of mainstream psychology on a scientistic notion of scientific cognition. Talks of a crisis in psychology were gaining ground again. Controverting the paradigmatic maturity vs. the pre-/non-paradigmatic state of our discipline or, alternatively, its necessarily multi-paradigmatic character, the quest for unification as against a programmatic theoretical pluralism became a top issue of scholarly dispute. The institutionalisation of ISTP in 1985 and its initial epistemological and meta-theoretical core themes clearly reflected this pervasive trend. Some 35 years later, it has become noticeably quiet about such concerns, and there is no evidence of a renewal of large-scale discussions on a foundational crisis in psychology, let alone of ambitious attempts at theoretical unification or re-foundation – despite the fact that none of the “epistemopathologial“ (Koch, 1981) diagnoses of traditional variable-psychology have been refuted or lost strategic importance. Combining historical retrospection with an exemplary analysis of topical theoretical-psychological subjects, the aim of my paper is to get a clearer idea of where Theoretical Psychology currently stands in regard to the meta-scientific study of psychological theory-problems.

On the Aesthetics of Self Expression:

Theoretical psychology is at its best when it engages in the wider psychological community by bringing about critical reflection and synthesis. This vision is challenging to accomplish due to “anesthesia”: a practice of ‘comatose’ production divorced from authentically generative activity and meaningful engagement with others. This notion is developed by drawing on Marcuse’s discussion of the surplus of suppression enabled by technology and a hyperreal milieu. Technological practices such as the engineering of social media platforms maximize anesthesia and amplify such concerns. I advocate for a turn to Bakhtinian aesthetics of self-expression to spell out an aesthetic for theoretical psychology.

F.T. Mikhailov: Appeal as a Cultural and Psychological Phenomenon

The paper analyzes the concept of ‘appeal’, the introduction of which is related to one of the fundamental contributions of F.T. Mikhailov into philosophy and theoretical psychology. The historical and biographical contexts of F.T. Mikhailov is revealed, behind which stands the classical dialectical tradition of understanding man and his creation — culture. Long-term work in psychology and contacts with psychologists made it possible to implement this tradition in a new way in the course of comprehending the foundations of psychological knowledge within the framework of cultural-historical and activity approaches. From the point of view of F.T. Mikhailov, culture appears as a sphere of embodied appeals of people (human communities) to each other. The logic of these appeals is seen both as the process of creating culture in history and as its assimilation in the course of individual development. Individual appeal, aimed at ‘universal’ response, is at the heart of any human action. It is in the targeted streams of mutual appeals, ‘call-responses’ (not only verbal) expressing the people’s vital need of each other, that a human community is born within which people become the “natural organs of life”.

Recent movements in theoretical psychology in Japan

The purpose of this article is to report on the status quo in Japanese theoretical psychology and introduce some of the recent theoretical debates relating to psychology and related fields in Japan. Theoretical psychology has not been very active in Japanese psychology so far. However, despite that, very important studies on theoretical issues in psychology have been conducted in the last 20 years, such as theoretical debate concerning “new forms of psychology”; methodological arguments about qualitative approaches, narrative psychology, and clinical psychology; detailed studies on the history of Japanese modern psychology; and the creation of new interdisciplinary fields of research. At present, Japanese psychology seems to be a collection of small diverse paradigms. I conclude that more theoretical and philosophical arguments are needed in order to avoid narrowing psychologists’ view on humanity and to pursue the true and comprehensive understanding of the object.

Theorizing in psychology: From the critique of a hyper-science to conceptualizing subjectivity

It is emphasized that theoretical psychology is based on the practice of theorizing. After presenting and challenging some ideas about theories, three tasks for theoretical psychologists are discussed: theorizing as critique refers to describing psychology as a hyper-science that inflates its methodological and technical activities in order to conceal its lack of a natural–scientific foundation. Theorizing as reconstruction is an activity that seeks to make sense of history, culture, society, power, money, and politics in the development of the discipline and subjectivity. This task also traces the elements that have led to psychology’s difficulties. Theorizing as creation means developing theories that are able to make sense of psychological knowledge. It is suggested that a theory of subjectivity is needed that draws on not only the psychological sciences but also the psychological humanities. Finally, it is argued that theorizing remains a duty of psychological work.

Theoretical dialogue and interdisciplinary relevance: Thirty years of Theory & Psychology

The 30th year of publication of Theory & Psychology has coincided with local and global disruption and upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, and in so doing has reemphasized (and in some instances reinforced and exacerbated) systemic inequities. The year has also been characterized by a resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and antiracism protests, as well as counter protests from the far right. There has been a dramatic upsurge in public disagreement about knowledge claims in what some have been calling a post-truth world. Given this, it is worth reexamining the role of theoretical psychology in the discipline and beyond. The occasion of the 30-year anniversary of Theory & Psychology is used to reaffirm the vibrancy and relevance of theoretical work in psychology. The question is raised to what degree we have an obligation to make our theoretical work intelligible beyond the specific scholarly communities engaged in work similar to our own. Ten articles featured in this anniversary issue are introduced.

Madness, Pain, & Ikhtilāṭ al-ʿaql: Conceptualizing Ibn Abī Ṣādiq’s Medico-Philosophical Psychology

This paper brings both textual and ethnographic considerations to bear on Ibn Abī Ṣādiq’s (d. 1068/470H) medico-philosophical commentary on the Hippocratic Apho­risms. He considers cases of madness and absence of pain in order to discuss the problem of ikhtilāṭ al-ʿaql (mental derangement) and its relation to the body, soul, and spirit. Focusing on ikhtilāṭ offers a space to examine an important configuration at the limit of the physical, the metaphysical, and spiritual. Ultimately, a close reading of Ibn Abī Ṣādiq’s commentaries moves toward a theoretical psychology (a theory of the soul) and a medico-philosophical language of the subjective experience of pain.