Rawson, Donald George
(1992)
Authenicated action and the decision to stop smoking.
PhD thesis, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Abstract
In this rational reconstruction, two rival research programmes are identified as dominating the Social Psychology of decision making. Behavioral Decision Theory and the Theory of Reasoned Action embody the Rationalist programme. Social Judgment Theory and Attributional Theory exemplify the Empiricist programme. As predicted by the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes (MSRP), the negative heuristics are shown to condense as hard cores which remain protected from refutation. The historical reconstruction of Social Judgment Theory illustrates uneven development in algorithmic and propositional heuristics. Behavioral Decision Theory shows a progressive problem shift to Multi Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT). In a revision of MSRP to include practice shifts, the Theory of Reasoned Action illustrates progressive practice despite empirical anomalies. Attributional theory shows a progressive problem shift by predicting personal-efficacy to influence choice. Practice, however, is restrained through reliance on the ANOVA paradigm. The experimental study partitioned locus and stability attributes for subjects' choice of therapy programmes in an anti-smoking clinic. A significant main effect was found for stability expectancy, though this did not influence choice. The Lens Model algorithm was demonstrated to transpose successfully onto the Self-efficacy model with the intra-system capturing decisions combining the two forms of efficacy expectation. The Theory of Reasoned Action was augmented by transfer of MAUT techniques giving relative weighting to salience. Though Rationalist and Empiricist paradigms illuminate some aspects of stopping smoking, neither adequately addresses the decision-action gap perceived by smokers who disown their original intentions when the the correspondence is seen as inauthentic. An alternative model is proposed with a basis in Objectivist epistemology. Authenticated action is explained as a means of arriving at decisions through consideration of problem and practice shifts at the individual level.
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