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FrancoAngeli Journals

Commentaries

N. 2 (2022)

On the quest for disciplinary unity and the virtues of open concepts

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3280/rpc2-2022oa14745
Inviata
5 ottobre 2022
Pubblicato
24-01-2023

Abstract

One key strategy for unifying the discipline of psychology is to develop a meta-theoretical framework through the advancement of core concepts.  Rather than having these be strictly defined from the outset, this commentary argues for the utility of open-ended concepts for scientific advancement. This is illustrated with a brief historical review and current status of Prägnanz, assimiliation-accommodation, schema, liminality and mediation, which also show the difficulties on finding core concepts for psychology as a whole. Open-ended concepts may be useful here in that they can help to bring together converging lines of research from different approaches within psychology. Finally, a case is made for mediationas a core concept that is currently converging with notions of extended and distributed cognition. 

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