Theory and Model Building in Psychology

This edited volume brings together scholars from diverse theoretical traditions to present and discuss their perspective on theory-building in psychology. Amid ongoing discussions about a potential (theory) crisis in the discipline, this collection offers a timely and comprehensive overview of key debates. It serves as a foundation for further reflection and future research.
The book consists of three parts. The chapters in the first part analyse conceptual and philosophical issues underlying theory- and model-building in psychology. By contextualizing the debate with historical and interdisciplinary arguments, these chapters provide a framework for further discussion. The second part is dedicated to the challenges that emerge when inquiring into the nature of theory- and model-building in psychology. Psychology faces a unique set of meta-scientific concerns that any attempt at solution needs to recognize. Such attempts are discussed in the third part of the book. The book concludes with a final chapter, in which the individual contributions are situated within the current debate on theory- and model-building in psychology.
Fabian Hutmacher is a lecturer at the University of Würzburg, Germany. In his research, he combines empirical methods and (meta-)theoretical reflections to arrive at a better understanding of individual and collective processes of reasoning and remembering. He also holds a keen interest in the philosophy and history of psychology. He is the editor of two books and has published in leading general interest journals such as American Psychologist, Psychological Inquiry, and Psychological Science as well as in journals specializing in meta-theoretical questions, such as Theory & Psychology and the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology.
Alexander Nicolai Wendt is a lecturer at the Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria, and the Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany. Besides experimental cognitive psychology, he engages with foundational problems of psychology concerning the discipline's history, meta-theory, and methodology. Recent books are dedicated to these concerns: What is Psychology About? The Philosophical Foundations of its Subject-Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025), Phenomenological Psychology as Rigorous Science (Springer Nature, 2024).

List of contents

Part I: Foundational Issues in Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 1. On Theories and Models in Psychological Discourse: A Conceptual Approach  (Kathleen L. Slaney).- Chapter 2. The “Oughts” and “Shoulds” of Integration in Psychology (Lisa M. Osbeck).- Chapter 3. Toward a More Accurate Notion of Exploratory Research (And Why it Matters) (Uljana Feest & Berna Devezer).- Chapter 4. Theory- and Model-Building in Experimental Psychology: Learning from Past Mistakes? (Joachim Funke).- Chapter 5. Theories and Models in Phenomenological Psychology (Alexander N. Wendt & Frederick J. Wertz).- Chapter 6. Solving the Problem of Psychology Can Help with Theory and Model Building (Gregg Henriques & Marcia Gralha).- Part II: Current Challenges for Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 7. The Unresolved Puzzle of Psychological Theories (Paul De Boeck, Jolynn Pek, Barbara Andersen, & Brandon Turner).- Chapter 8. Theory and Measurement: Why Representation is not Enough (Matthias Borgstede).- Chapter 9. Scientism in Contemporary Psychology, and its Underlying Mythic Order (Carlos Cornejo & Pablo Rojas).- Chapter 10. On Worms, Mirror Neurons and Explaining Human Behavior (Markus I. Eronen & Laura F. Bringmann).- Chapter 11. Addiction as an Example of Concept and Theory Formation in Psychology and Psychiatry: Lessons Since the 19th Century (Stephan Schleim).- Chapter 12. Theory and Practice in Psychology (Maarten Derksen).-Chapter 13. Psychological Theory, Practice, and Real-Life Circumstances: An Epistemological Analysis of Their Intersections (Nicolò Gaj).- Part III: Possible Solutions for Theory- and Model-Building.- Chapter 14. Mathematical Models in Theoretical Psychophysics: A Historical Perspective (Ruben Ellinghaus & Rolf Ulrich).- Chapter 15. Integrating Cultural Psychology in Theory Building in Mainstream Psychology (Gesa S. Duden & Momoka Sunohara).- Chapter 16. Psychoanalysis in the Midst of Psychology’s Crisis (Hannes Wendler & Timo Storck).- Chapter 17. The Nine Lives of Phenomenological Psychology (Henderikus J. Stam).- Chapter 18. Towards a Neuro-Environmental Lens Meta-Model of Person-Situation Transactions (Martin Peper).- Chapter 19. Historical Psychology: What is it? (Daniel Sullivan).- Chapter 20. Past and Present Historical Psychologies: How to Deal with Variation in and Plurality of Mental Architectures in Psychological Research (Noemí Pizarroso López).- Part IV: Conclusion.- Chapter 21. Theory- and Model-Building in Psychology: Mapping the Current Debate (Fabian Hutmacher & Alexander N. Wendt).

About the author

Fabian Hutmacher is a lecturer at the University of Würzburg, Germany. In his research, he combines empirical methods and (meta-)theoretical reflections to arrive at a better understanding of individual and collective processes of reasoning and remembering. He also holds a keen interest in the philosophy and history of psychology. He is the editor of two books and has published in leading general interest journals such as American Psychologist, Psychological Inquiry, and Psychological Science as well as in journals specializing in meta-theoretical questions, such as Theory & Psychology and the Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology.
Alexander Nicolai Wendt is a lecturer at the Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria, and the Ruprecht Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany. Besides experimental cognitive psychology, he engages with foundational problems of psychology concerning the discipline's history, meta-theory, and methodology. Recent books are dedicated to these concerns: What is Psychology About? The Philosophical Foundations of its Subject-Matter (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025), Phenomenological Psychology as Rigorous Science (Springer Nature, 2024)

Summary

This edited volume brings together scholars from diverse theoretical traditions to present and discuss their perspective on theory-building in psychology. Amid ongoing discussions about a potential (theory) crisis in the discipline, this collection offers a timely and comprehensive overview of key debates. It serves as a foundation for further reflection and future research.
The book consists of three parts. The chapters in the first part analyse conceptual and philosophical issues underlying theory- and model-building in psychology. By contextualizing the debate with historical and interdisciplinary arguments, these chapters provide a framework for further discussion. The second part is dedicated to the challenges that emerge when inquiring into the nature of theory- and model-building in psychology. Psychology faces a unique set of meta-scientific concerns that any attempt at solution needs to recognize. Such attempts are discussed in the third part of the book. The book concludes with a final chapter, in which the individual contributions are situated within the current debate on theory- and model-building in psychology.

Product details

• Assisted by: Fabian Hutmacher (Editor), Nicolai Wendt (Editor), Alexander Nicolai Wendt (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer International Publishing
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 23.12.2025
• EAN: 9783032014528
• ISBN: 978-3-032-01452-8
• No. of pages: 398
• Illustrations: X, 398 p. 20 illus., schwarz-weiss Illustrationen
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Basic principles; Psychologie, Geschichte, Phenomenology, Psychologie: Theorien und Denkschulen, Ontology, Epistemology, conceptual analysis, Philosophie: Epistemologie und Erkenntnistheorie, Philosophie: Metaphysik und Ontologie, Pluralism, Psychological Methods, History of Psychology, Critical Psychology, Theoretical Psychology, theories, Model building, Psychological theory