The enigma of ecological psychology

Kaminski, Gerhard

doi:10.1016/s0272-4944(83)80022-x

Cited by 15 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Genotypes represent a simple but coarse-grained taxonomy of settings (Kaminski, 1983;Moos, 1983). For example, "Plays, Concerts, and Programs" is a behavior setting genotype that occurs within a high school (Barker & Gump, 1964).…”

Section: Classification Of Settings Based On Behavior Episodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Settings have a life-cycle, they come into being, develop, and sometimes die; generally these temporal aspects of behavior settings have been ignored (Kaminski, 1983;Koch, 1986;Wicker, 1987). Similarly, settings are usually viewed as isolated islands, the external context and connections with other settings are seldom examined.…”

Section: Behavior Setting Facetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Barker's theory of behavior settings (1968,1978) was hailed as a potentially revolutionary eco-behavioral theory upon first introduction (Wicker, 1987). For the most part, however, behavior setting theory has not had the expected impact on the work of community psychologists and others (Kaminski, 1983;Perkins, Burns, Perry, & Nielsen, 1988). In this article we discuss one possible reason for this lack of impact, and present the results of a study designed to expand the theory of behavior settings.…”

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confidence: 98%

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Setting Phenotypes in a Mutual Help Organization: Expanding Behavior Setting Theory

Luke¹,

Rappaport²,

Seidman³

2002

Ecological Research to Promote Social Change

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Expands Barker's theory of behavior settings by proposing an additional method o f classifying settings based on their functional~behavioral aspects-the setting phenotype. Although behavior setting theory has been widely hailed as a revolutionary contribution to behavioral science, it has had limited impact on general psychology. This may be due in part to a reliance on a purely structural method o f classifying behavior settings-the setting genotype. Behavioral data were collected f r o m 510 meetings o f 13 self-help groups from a mutual help organization for persons with problems in lying. A cluster analysis was performed to uncover meaningful behavioral patterns among the groups. Four phenotypes were identified: personal, impersonal, small talk, and advising. Mutual help group phenotype was f o u n d to be related to a set o f setting characteristics as well as to overall rated change o f group members. The results are discussed in light of the significance o f the phenotype construct for making behavior setting theory more relevant for social scientists.The legacy of the p e r s o n -e n v i r o n m e n t debate is an appreciation by social scientists of the i m p o r t a n c e of both person and place in u n d e r s t a n d i n g h u m a n behavior (Bandura, 1978; Bern & F u n d e r , 1978;Pervin, 1987).'Support for this research came from an NIMH grant (MH37390) awarded to Julian Rappaport and Edward Seidman. We thank Brian Luke, the associate editors, and three anonymous reviewers for comments on an earlier draft; also Julie Genz, Thomas Reischl, Linda Roberts, and the members of the GROW organization for making this study possible. 2All correspondence should be sent to Douglas Luke,

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Section: Classification Of Settings Based On Behavior Episodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Behavior Setting Facetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 98%

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Setting Phenotypes in a Mutual Help Organization: Expanding Behavior Setting Theory

Luke¹,

Rappaport²,

Seidman³

2002

Ecological Research to Promote Social Change

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“…Behavior setting theory has not been without its critics. Kaminski (1983) argued that although the behavior setting was "an enormous step forward in the history of psychology," the great variety and diversity in everyday life "seems to have been severely underestimated if Barker and his associates came to believe that they would get hold of it in one fell swoop" (p. 87) through the study of only behavior settings. A scientific investigatory need to reduce the complexity of the natural habitat led to an oversimplification of that very habitat.…”

Section: Behavior Setting Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fox (1985), an economist, stated, "We believe Barker's concept of behavior settings may come to play as important a role in the social sciences as the cell concept does in biology" (p. 173 [italics added]). Kaminski (1983) wrote, "Scholars looking at ecological psychology from some distance also adjudge it the status of a major innovation, not only in environmental psychology but in psychology in general" (p. 85). It is paradoxical, however, that even with today's high interest in things environmental, behavior setting theory is still not widely known or understood, particularly by American psychologists (Stokols, 1995;Wicker, 1987), although this is not the case among European psychologists (Kaminski, 1989).…”

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confidence: 99%

A Powerful Theory and a Paradox

Scott

2005

Environment and Behavior

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is the Herman B Wells endowed professor of educational psychology at Indiana University, Bloomington. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Peabody College (now of Vanderbilt University) in Nashville, Tennessee. Her research interests include natural habitat research methodologies, effects of behavior settings on behavior, theories of human development, and the history of psychology. She teaches ecological psychology, human development, and the history of psychology.ABSTRACT: Roger Barker, influenced by Lewin, developed a powerful theory in psychology, behavior setting theory. Paradoxically, this theory is still not widely known or understood in mainstream American psychology. Oral histories of the core group who worked with Barker were collected and examined to determine influences on them and subsequent directions in the field of ecological psychology in an attempt to understand this paradox. Three clusters of factors emerged. Behavior setting theory has been affirmed in a number of places, including other behavioral sciences, but has not as yet moved into mainstream psychology, although there are some indications that the theory is moving in that direction. These directions as well as barriers are discussed. (1968, 1987) and his colleagues, at the Midwest Psychological Field Station in Oskaloosa, Kansas, developed what has been called by people outside that group a powerful theory in psychology, behavior setting theory.

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The Relevance of Ecologically Oriented Conceptualizations to Theory Building in Environment and Behavior Research

Kaminski

1989

Advance in Environment, Behavior, and Design

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The enigma of ecological psychology

Cited by 15 publications

References 1 publication

Setting Phenotypes in a Mutual Help Organization: Expanding Behavior Setting Theory

Setting Phenotypes in a Mutual Help Organization: Expanding Behavior Setting Theory

A Powerful Theory and a Paradox

The Relevance of Ecologically Oriented Conceptualizations to Theory Building in Environment and Behavior Research

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