PsychoPsycho--Sociology at the Sociology at the Science/Policy InterfaceScience/Policy Interface● Some key explanatory concepts● A few implications…at an individual levelat an organizational levelPsychoPsycho--Sociology at the Sociology at the Science/Policy InterfaceScience/Policy InterfaceSome propositions…● Science produces information; science has nointrinsic value or meaning ● Information has no intrinsic value or meaning● Meaning and value are constructed by individualsin context of society & culture● One of our intellectual tasks is to explain whyindividuals respond the way they do in specificcontexts to specific informationSome propositions…How is that uttered sounds, marks on paper & computer screens, and other sensory stimuli are ascribed meaning and value?In other words….Some key explanatory conceptsPsychoPsycho--Sociology at the Sociology at the Science/Policy InterfaceScience/Policy Interface“Information” (making meaning)in a psychological contextSELF↔WORLD SCRIPTCore (self-) consciousnessUnplanned behaviorsSYMBOLIC & NARRATIONAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELFCORE PERSONALITY STRUCTUREPlanned behaviors (behavioral intentions - preferences)Self↔worlddoctrines & formulaeSelf↔worldprojectionsSelf↔world beliefsBehavioral orientationsValue orientationsCoping stylesCore impulses (traits)Actions/behaviorsAdopted strategies Expressed demandsExistential psychodynamicsExtended consciousnessAutobiographical selfAffect(emotion, salience, perception, attention & motivation)A psychological contextHuman decision-making has a fundamentally emotive basis.“Rationality” affects humans, but primarily mediated by affective responses to symbolic constructions of information.A. DamasioSatisficingdecisions by…Rules of thumbRubricsSimple mental modelsHerbert SimonBounded Rationalityshaped by…World viewsMythsA psychological contextThis holds for scientists as well...Thomas KuhnA psychological contextDeathIsolationMeaningResponsibilityExistential concernsIrvin YalomInformation with greater Information with greater existential import has existential import has greater greater meaningmeaningExtraversionOpenness to experienceAgreeablenessConscientiousnessNeuroticism“Big 5” personality traitsEngagementSelf-controlBob McCraePaul Costa““Openness to experienceOpenness to experience””affects receptivity to novel affects receptivity to novel or challenging informationor challenging informationSomewhere between behavioral orientations & core impulses…Tough-mindednessNeed for order & structureIntolerance of ambiguityCapacity for integrative complexityDegree of positivism (Attitude toward reality)Hard Hard ““thickthick””boundaries in boundaries in the mindthe mindBoundaries of the mind Boundaries of the mind affect receptivity to novel affect receptivity to novel or challenging informationor challenging informationSELFSELF↔↔WORLD SCRIPTWORLD SCRIPTNarrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessNarrative constructive of meaning & consciousness► Worldviews and myths are embedded in “self” script► Worldviews and related myths embody a set of beliefsWorldviews & myth (some propositions)and related doctrinesand formulae about how the world “is” and “should be.”► Myths are the (more-or-less) coherent storieswe tell ourselves and others to explainthe world and project our expectationsand demands onto it.► Our myths intergrade with culture, especially that of our ingroup(s).Narrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessDoctrine: Assertions about how the world should be, including key words and phrases of particular symbolic import.(e.g., the doctrine of capitalism)Formula: Assertions about how transformation of the world to a “proper” state should be done. (e.g., the institution ofprivate property rights)Miranda: Physical trappings and other symbolic manifestations (e.g., rituals) of the myth. (e.g., the New York Stock Exchange, particular kinds of ties and shoes, cell phones perpetually plugged in the ear)Some prescriptive elements of mythNarrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessBeliefAlso…a condition that engenders willingness to modify self-narrative or otherwise act on the basis of received information.Narrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessEncompasses internalized worldviews and myths.Differentiating at least 2 different domainswithin which individuals respond to, process, and potentially re-project information…1. Psyche or Core Identity, with existential import, organized around “belief.”2. Strategic, organized around service of perceived self interests, of more direct relevance to policy discourses, and not necessarily entailing “belief.”BeliefNarrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessStephen KellertNegativisticDominionisticUtilitarianScientisticEcologisticMoralisticHumanisticNaturalisticAestheticNatureNature--viewsviewsSELFSELF↔↔WORLD SCRIPTWORLD SCRIPTNegativisticDominionisticUtilitarianScientisticEcologisticMoralisticHumanisticNaturalisticAestheticNatureNature--viewsviewsSecurityPowerAchievementTraditionConformityHedonismUniversalismBenevolenceSelf-directionStimulationValuesValuesNegativisticDominionisticUtilitarianScientisticEcologisticMoralisticHumanisticNaturalisticAestheticNatureNature--viewsviewsSecurityPowerAchievementTraditionConformityHedonismUniversalismBenevolenceSelf-directionStimulationValuesValuesCONSERVATIVESELF-ENHANCEMENTSELF-TRANSCENDENTOPENNESS TO CHANGEIll-managed or inflamed existential anxietiesNegativisticDominionisticUtilitarianScientisticEcologisticMoralisticHumanisticNaturalisticAestheticStephen KellertegoisticBiocentricaltruism(Humanisticaltruism)NatureNature--viewsviewsSELFSELF↔↔WORLD SCRIPTWORLD SCRIPTNegativisticDominionisticUtilitarianScientisticEcologisticMoralisticHumanisticNaturalisticAestheticegoisticBiocentricaltruism(Humanisticaltruism)Ambivalence or hostility toward environmental & conservation policiesAdvocacy or support for environmental & conservation policiesNature-viewsSelf-script or self-narrativeDiscursive construction of the policy processNarrative constructive of meaning & consciousnessIndividual Responses to InformationA condition that arises when self-narrative is confronted by disaffirming information. Cognitive ConsonanceA condition that arises when self-narrative is comforted by affirming information.Cognitive DissonanceResponses to information: Self factorsSelf factorsThe Fundamentally Affective BasisDissonance