Using functional fields to formally represent the meaning and logic of behavior: A worked example using Dark Triad-related actions. (1st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wood, Dustin; Lowman, Graham H.; Harms, P.D.; Spain, Seth M.
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 136(2019)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 37
• Publication Date: 2019-01-01
• Subjects: Psychological situation -- Functional fields -- Process models -- Network models -- Functionalism -- Situational judgment tests -- Dark Triad; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.09.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: We describe and illustrate how functional fields can be used to represent the psychological situation, and consequently to understand the meaning and logic of different types of behavior, using the example of actions related to Dark Triad personality dimensions: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy . In doing so, we describe how functional field representations connect to expectancy-value and rational actor models of psychological processes (e.g., Bandura, 1977; Feather, 1982; Heckhausen, 1977), and provide a number of guidelines for estimating these models empirically through the use of elaborated situational judgment tests (SJTs). As we show, functional fields can be regarded as causal models or network structures with constraints that better formalize common assumptions regarding the functional nature of behavior. Functional field models also point to the value of operationalizing psychological process variables as expected causal relationships between features of the environment, ultimately operationalized at the ' between-possible-action ' level of analysis which is central to causal processes.