An Automata-Based Method to Formalize Psychological Theories -- The Case Study of Lazarus and Folkman's Stress Theory

TL;DR

This paper introduces an automata-based approach to formalize psychological theories, demonstrated through Lazarus and Folkman's stress model, to improve precision, verification, and collaboration in psychological research.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel automata-based method for formalizing psychological theories, enabling systematic modeling and analysis using tools from theoretical computer science.

Findings

Successful formalization of Lazarus and Folkman's stress theory

Enhanced tools for verification and comparison of psychological theories

Facilitates collaboration and modularity in psychological modeling

Abstract

Formal models are important for theory-building, enhancing the precision of predictions and promoting collaboration. Researchers have argued that there is a lack of formal models in psychology. We present an automata-based method to formalize psychological theories, i.e. to transform verbal theories into formal models. This approach leverages the tools of theoretical computer science for formal theory development, for verification, comparison, collaboration, and modularity. We exemplify our method on Lazarus and Folkman's theory of stress, showcasing a step-by-step modeling of the theory.