A New Unified Theory of Psychology (PDF)

psychology to be a theory of the workings of the mind, while others deny the notion of "mind" altogether, and limit themselves to modeling observed behavior. For this reason, Henriques takes his first goal to be that of "locating" the field ontologically. He argues that there is a Tree of Knowledge with four segments. The first is "Matter," which is studied by physics, chemistry, geology, and astronomy. The second is "Life," studied by biology. The third is "Mind," which is the subject matter of psychology, and the fourth, and highest, is "Culture," studied by the social sciences. Henriques pays special attention to the three points of junction between segments of the Tree of Knowledge. He says the Matter-Life junction is modeled by biological evolutionary theory, the Life-Mind junction is modeled by what he calls Behavioral Investment Theory, and the Mind-Culture junction is modeled by what he calls Justification Theory. By Behavioral Investment Theory, Henriques means essentially the rational choice model of decision, biological and economic theory, although he adds a dimension of complexity to human behavior by saying that Justification Theory requires a "rational emotional actor" that is not properly modeled in standard rational choice theory (p., 46). I might add that Henriques also includes game theory as part of Behavioral Investment Theory, simply because decision-making when there are multiple agents involved requires game-theoretic reasoning. This point of view is basic to economic theory. In biology, the extension of decision theory (e.g., foraging theory) to game theory was pioneered by John Maynard Smith, Evolution and the Theory of Games (Cambridge University Press, 1982), and now is standard in all of animal behavior theory. In Henriques' innovative terminology, social interactions are governed by an "Influence Matrix," which is part of the psychology of the individual that regulates how the individual relates to others. Henriques stresses the emotional side of such interaction and avoids all game theoretic reasoning as well as any analysis of the role of incentives and payoffs in the choice of behaviors governed by the Influence Matrix… I believe Henriques' espousal of Behavioral Investment Theory is the most important integrating concept in this book. If this principle alone were incorporated uniformly throughout research psychology, it would provide much of the sought-for analytical core…A New Unified Theory of Psychology is terrifically challenging, to the point of perhaps being a new beginning for psychology as a research discipline.” (Herb Gintis, Santa Fe Institute and Central European University, September 2011)

“Offers a set of nested frameworks that puts different parts of psychological research and practice into a coherent relationship with each other. … It is also helpful that the book has excellent transitions, with summaries frequently reminding the readers where they have been and anticipating where they are going. … If I could teach a graduate-level Introduction to Psychology, this would be the book. If I could recommend one book to colleagues distraught at the fragmented nature of the field, this would be the book.” (Eric P. Charles, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 57 (26), July, 2012)