Coherence in Human Experience and Psychological Science

Social psychology is a highly diverse area of scientific inquiry that has left no stone unturned in its attempt to capture the nuances of human experience. The field’s wide-ranging agenda is commendable, but it has had the unintended effect of promoting a highly fragmented discipline. With a topical landscape ranging from cardiovascular processes to inter-group relations, it’s not surprising that the field is populated by an untold number of disconnected mini-theories and equally independent research strategies. The lack of theoretical and paradigmatic coherence has generated concern from several quarters in recent years. But lamenting this state of affairs is one thing, and fixing it is quite another. Is it possible to impose theoretical integration on the complexity and vagaries of human social experience? If so, what should such a theory look like?