CPS reading group 18/03
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Thomas Graham
Mar 11, 2026, 6:36:17 PMMar 11
to anu-phi...@googlegroups.com, sol....@gmail.com
Hi all,
This week, the CPS reading group will be reading "Explanatory Models
for Psychiatric Illness" by Kenneth Kendler.
As always, we will meet on Wednesday, in room 6.71, from 10:30 to 11:30.
Cheers,
Tom
Abstract:
How can we best develop explanatory models for psychiatric disorders?
Because causal factors have an impact on psychiatric illness both at
micro levels and macro levels, both within and outside of the
individual, and involving processes best understood from biological,
psychological, and sociocultural perspectives, traditional models of
science that strive for single broadly applicable explanatory laws are
ill suited for our field. Such models are based on the incorrect
assumption that psychiatric illnesses can be understood from a single
perspective. A more appropriate scientific model for psychiatry
emphasizes the understanding of mechanisms, an approach that fits
naturally with a multicausal framework and provides a realistic
paradigm for scientific progress, that is, understanding mechanisms
through decomposition and reassembly. Simple subunits of complicated
mechanisms can be usefully studied in isolation. Reassembling these
constituent parts into a functioning whole, which is straightforward
for simple additive mechanisms, will be far more challenging in
psychiatry where causal networks contain multiple nonlinear
interactions and causal loops. Our field has long struggled with the
interrelationship between biological and psychological explanatory
perspectives. Building from the seminal work of the neuronal modeler
and philosopher David Marr, the author suggests that biology will
implement but not replace psychology within our explanatory systems.
The iterative process of interactions between biology and psychology
needed to achieve this implementation will deepen our understanding of
both classes of processes.
Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://anu.zoom.us/j/82595801661?pwd=abASKA1huY1LWb7kwXcWVELJa5n3sJ.1
Meeting ID: 825 9580 1661
Password: 036715
This week, the CPS reading group will be reading "Explanatory Models
for Psychiatric Illness" by Kenneth Kendler.
As always, we will meet on Wednesday, in room 6.71, from 10:30 to 11:30.
Cheers,
Tom
Abstract:
How can we best develop explanatory models for psychiatric disorders?
Because causal factors have an impact on psychiatric illness both at
micro levels and macro levels, both within and outside of the
individual, and involving processes best understood from biological,
psychological, and sociocultural perspectives, traditional models of
science that strive for single broadly applicable explanatory laws are
ill suited for our field. Such models are based on the incorrect
assumption that psychiatric illnesses can be understood from a single
perspective. A more appropriate scientific model for psychiatry
emphasizes the understanding of mechanisms, an approach that fits
naturally with a multicausal framework and provides a realistic
paradigm for scientific progress, that is, understanding mechanisms
through decomposition and reassembly. Simple subunits of complicated
mechanisms can be usefully studied in isolation. Reassembling these
constituent parts into a functioning whole, which is straightforward
for simple additive mechanisms, will be far more challenging in
psychiatry where causal networks contain multiple nonlinear
interactions and causal loops. Our field has long struggled with the
interrelationship between biological and psychological explanatory
perspectives. Building from the seminal work of the neuronal modeler
and philosopher David Marr, the author suggests that biology will
implement but not replace psychology within our explanatory systems.
The iterative process of interactions between biology and psychology
needed to achieve this implementation will deepen our understanding of
both classes of processes.
Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://anu.zoom.us/j/82595801661?pwd=abASKA1huY1LWb7kwXcWVELJa5n3sJ.1
Meeting ID: 825 9580 1661
Password: 036715
Thomas Graham
Mar 16, 2026, 8:10:24 PMMar 16
to anu-phi...@googlegroups.com, sol....@gmail.com
Hi all,
Just a reminder that this is on tomorrow.
Cheers,
Tom
On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 9:37 AM Thomas Graham
Just a reminder that this is on tomorrow.
Cheers,
Tom
On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 9:37 AM Thomas Graham
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