The Study of Social Action: The Ethogenic Approach

Ethogenics, proposed by an Oxford philosopher Rom Harre and his colleagues, rejects the traditional paradigm of social psychology; the mechanistic model of man, the Humean conception of causality, and logical positivism. Instead they argue for a new paradigm. It includes the anthropomorphic model of man, structural explanation, and the emphasis on action rather than behavior. Ethogenics recommends the flexible use of a variety of methodology opposing rigid experimental method strongly advocated by traditional social psychology. Account analysis, analytical models, and repertory grids are typical of ethogenic methodology. It seems that ethogenics and traditional social psychology tap different aspects of social psychology, and can and should supplement each other in order to give a more complete understanding of human social behavior.

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Article Contents

Vol.3 No.1

The Study of Social Action: The Ethogenic Approach

Abstract

Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology