Mathematical Modeling in Psychology

Abstract

The interest in problems of mathematical modeling requires no explanation. Before his eyes, the contemporary psychologist sees unfolding ever more attractive constructions in general systems theory, theoretical cybernetics and the various system-structural approaches it has spawned, all claiming to encompass if not psychological, at least "parapsychological" or "suprapsychological," problems. The opportunities for applying the tools of set theory, formal logic, the theory of algorithms, and many other traditional and nontraditional mathematical disciplines are becoming increasingly wide and more flexible. Finally, definite progress can be observed in the structure of psychological theories themselves: conceptual schemata, standardized experimental procedures, norms for interpreting behavior, and methods for analyzing the results of research are becoming more and more differentiated and sophisticated. All these developments have generated a plethora of studies concerned with the problems of theoretical and "technical" model-building — indeed, there have even been attempts to establish special disciplines, such as "mathematical psychology" and "the theory of psychological systems" (see, for example, F. George, 1963; M. Arbib, 1968; E. Feigenbaum & J. Feldman, 1967; W. R. Ashby, 1962).