Rethinking psychology

This book presents an unconventional, innovative approach to psychology. It is addressed to academic researchers, psychologists in the various practical domains, and policymakers with a deep interest in the understanding of behavior. The book recognizes the achievements of psychology as an academic and applied field, but is also highly critical of how it has developed over recent decades and is still developing today. After discussing nine limitations of the discipline, the author concludes that the very combination of these limitations implies a grim outlook for the future. For that reason he calls for a timely reconsideration of the discipline's basic assumptions and conventions: redesigning psychology. In attempting to do so, the author starts from scratch. He proposes the Triad model, a model that transforms the MOA (motivation, opportunity and ability) framework into an elaborate, systematic behavior theory. This new theory not only focuses on the key behavior determinants, but also considers their intriguing relationships and dynamics over time. This alternative approach reinterprets existing psychological insights, generates its own new insights, critically discusses the overall validity of behavior research and questions the general effectiveness of behavior oriented policy programs. As well as presenting theoretical arguments, the book refers to practical experience with the model and cites numerous examples.