Time and Psychological Explanation: (SUNY series, Alternatives in Psychology)

Psychology has been captured by an assumption that is almost totally unrecognized. This assumption-the linearity of time-unduly restricts theory and therapy, yet this restriction is so common, so customary, that it is often completely ignored. This book traces the influence of this assumption and reveals the many overlooked "anomalies" to its dominance. Slife describes the many findings and explanations that are incompatible with linear time in several psychological specialties. He contends that these unnoticed anomalies point to alternative conceptions of time that offer innovative ideas for psychological explanation and treatment.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction Linear Time and Psychological Explanation Purpose of the Book Content of the Book 1 Newtonian Time and Psychological Explanation The Rise of Linear Time in Western Culture Newtonian Time Newton's Temporal Framework for Explanation Criticisms of Newton's Framework Psychology's Newtonian Framework Conclusion 2 Developmental Psychology The History of Time and Developmental Studies The Newtonian Framework and Developmental Stages Newtonian Explanations of Social Development Anomalies to the Newtonian Paradigm for Development Conclusion 3 Personality Theory The Conceptual Roots of Personality Theory Objectivist and Subjectivist Models of Time Freud as a Mixed Model Theorist The Objectivist Tradition in Personality Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory The Subjectivist Tradition-Newtonian Anomalies Kurt Lewin Carl Jung Conclusion 4 Psychological Method The History of Method and Time The Newtonian Framework of Method Objectivity Continuity Linearity Universality Reductivity Anomalous Methods Systemic Method Hermeneutic Method Conclusion 5 Cognitive Psychology Time and Associationism-A Brief History Rationalism Versus Empiricism Time and Contemporary Cognitive Psychology Language and Problem Solving Anomalies to the Current Paradigm Rationalistic Constructivism Humanistic Learning Theory The Black Knight of Artificial Intelligence Conclusion 6 Individual Therapy The History of Individual Therapy and Time Modern Individual Therapy and Time Psychoanalysis Behavior Therapy Cognitive Therapy Existential Psychotherapy-Temporal Anomaly Conclusion 7 Group Therapy Linear Time and the Study of Groups The History of Group Therapy and Time The Current Status of Group Therapy Psychoanalytic Group Therapy Educative and Behavioral Group Therapy Experiential and Existential Anomalies Conclusion 8 Family Therapy The History of Family Therapy and Time The Current Status of Family Therapy Individual Models of Family Therapy Mechanistic Systems Therapy Organismic Systems Therapy-Linear Anomaly Cybernetics of Cybernetics Conclusion 9 General Temporal Themes of Explanation General Themes of the Newtonian Temporal Paradigm The Objectivity of Time The Continuity of Time The Universality of Time The Linearity of Time The Reductivity of Time General Anomalies to the Newtonian Temporal Paradigm The Objectivity of Time The Continuity of Time The Universality of Time The Linearity of Time The Reductivity of Time Implications of the Anomalies for Causation and Change Separating Causality and Linear Time Separating Change and Linear Time Conclusion 10 Alternative Assumptions of Time Organismic Holism Conceptual Roots Comparative Description Objectivity Linearity Continuity Universality Reductivity Conclusion Criticism Application to Psychology Development Personality Method Cognition Individual Therapy Group Therapy Family Therapy Hermeneutic Temporality Conceptual Roots Traditional Metaphysics Hermeneutic "Metaphysics" Comparative Description Objectivity Continuity Linearity Universality Reductivity Conclusion Criticism Application to Psychology Development Personality Method Cognition Individual Therapy Group Therapy Family Therapy General Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Brent D. Slife is Director of Clinical Training and Associate Professor of Psychology at Baylor University. He is Senior Editor of Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Psychological Issues (now in its seventh edition), Editor-in-Chief of theJournal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, and on the Editorial Boards of Theory & Psychology and the Journal of Mind and Behavior.

Review :
"This is a top-notch, scholarly work. I believe that Slife took a very difficult, complex topic and brought considerable understanding to it for the reader. Books of this type raise the level of sophistication in psychology." - Joseph F. Rychlak, Loyola University "The book makes an effective case that questions of time lie at the very soul of psychology and how we try to understand and to explain.The type of analysis that Slife does in the course of the book is also important as a model for what should be going on with increasing frequency in the field. I believe the book will be a significant contribution to the emerging field of critical, theoretical psychology." - Richard N. Williams, Brigham Young University