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Dynamical Minimalism: Why Less is More in Psychology

Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Graduate School for Social Psychology, Warsaw and Florida Atlantic University

The principle of parsimony, embraced in all areas of science, states that simple explanations are preferable to complex explanations in theory construction. Parsimony, however, can necessitate a trade-off with depth and richness in understanding. The approach of dynamical minimalism avoids this trade-off. The goal of this approach is to identify the simplest mechanisms and fewest variables capable of producing the phenomenon in question. A dynamical model in which change is produced by simple rules repetitively interacting with each other can exhibit unexpected and complex properties. It is thus possible to explain complex psychological and social phenomena with very simple models if these models are dynamic. In dynamical minimalist theories, then, the principle of parsimony can be followed without sacrificing depth in understanding. Computer simulations have proven especially useful for investigating the emergent properties of simple models.

Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 183-192 (2004)
DOI: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0802_12


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