Spiral and Helical Models for Psychology: Leaving Linearity Behind

We suggest that theoretical models in the social sciences would benefit from uses of nature’s images that map the complexity of the phenomena to be investigated. Such abstractions would better maintain the open-systemic character of the psychological and social phenomena in all their complexities. Particularly central in such complexities are dynamic catalytic processes that are operating in wholistic fields of psychological systems such as self, identity, and values Theoretical models taken from the mechanical realms of computational processes fail to capture these constantly changing and often nebulous fields. In particular, we analyze the promises of two abstract forms based on nature—spiral and helix—as providing temporal structure for understanding basic higher psychological functions, using the dialogical self theory as an example. The focus of that theory on dialogicality between I-positions in their transition through ruptures of the whole system is best fitted with nonlinear field-dependent models. For all systems of complex dynamic wholes kind, theoretical field models emulating various biocynotic systems (“meadow,” “mychorrea,” etc.) would constitute a new direction in theoretical advancement in the human sciences.