Mathematical models in psychology Do you know examples of application of mathematics in psychology besides statistical data processing?
For example, do there exist mathematical models of addiction to Internet sites?
 A: The mathematician Ulf Grenander wrote a book where he applied his General Pattern Theory to propose a mathematical model of generation of train of thoughts.
This is an example of application of mathematics to higher cognition.
The model can be tuned to model abnormal psychological disorders characterized for example by obsessional thoughts.
The book is a good read and you have Matlab code to play with.
References :
Grenander, U. (2012). A calculus of ideas: a mathematical study of human thought. World Scientific.
Grenander, Ulf. General pattern theory: A mathematical study of regular structures Oxford mathematical monographs. Oxford University Press: Clarendon, 1993.
Code of the model :
http://www.dam.brown.edu/ptg/REPORTS/mind07.zip
A: Actually there are a few models using a different approach.
Have a look at Abelson 1967 and more recently
Agent-Based Modeling: A New Approach for Theory Building in Social Psychology
Eliot R. Smith and Frederica R. Conrey
Pers Soc Psychol Rev 2007; 11; 87
DOI: 10.1177/1088868306294789
I published also some models, see e.g.
Dal Forno A., & Merlone, U., (2013). Nonlinear dynamics in work groups with Bion's basic assumptions. Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, Vol.17, No.2, April, pp.295-315.
