Intentional Behaviorism: Philosophical Foundations of Economic Psychology

Intentional behaviorism is a philosophy of psychology that seeks to ascertain the place and nature of cognitive explanation of behavior by empirically determining the scope of an extensional account of behavior based on the limitations of a behavioral approach to explanation. This book draws on an empirical program of research in economic psychology to establish a route to a reliable and justifiable intentional explanation of behavior. Since the cognitive revolution in psychology, intentional explanations of behavior have become the norm, and as the methodology that provides the normal science component of psychology, cognitivism is sometimes accepted relatively uncritically. However, there is a lack of understanding of the role of psychological research in determining the place and shape of intentionality. This book explicates the philosophy of psychology that the author has devised and applied in his work on economic psychology and behavioral economics. Given the provenance of intentional behaviorism, economic and consumer psychology forms the primary application basis for the book.This book provides a theoretical background to understanding how and why consumers make the choices they do. The book integrates behavioral economics, consumer psychology, and decision-making research to explore intentional behaviorism, which is proposed as a philosophical framework for consumer psychology, viewing economic behavior in the contexts of modern human consumers in affluent marketing-oriented societies.- Integrates research in behavioral economics, decision-making, cognitive psychology, and consumer psychology.- Offers readers an interdisciplinary look at intentionality and intentional explanations.- Proposes a theory of intentional behaviorism to explain economic behavior, consumer choice, and other decision-making.- Examines the methodologies of philosophers of mind such as Dennett and Searle.

About the Author

Gordon Foxall is Distinguished Research Professor at Cardiff University, United Kingdom, where he is responsible for research in Consumer Behavior Analysis, and a visiting research professor in economic psychology at the University of Reykjavik. He holds PhDs in industrial economics and business and in psychology, and a higher doctorate (DSocSc). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, the British Psychological Society, and the British Academy of Management. His research interests are in psychological theories of choice and their neuroeconomic underpinnings. His work in behavioral psychology and behavioral economics of consumer choice has inaugurated a new area of research, consumer behavior analysis, which brings behavioral economics and behavioral psychology to the investigation of consumer and marketer behavior in the natural settings of contemporary markets. He is the author of over 300 papers and chapters, and more than 30 books.