I don't know - saying that something that is a "relationship" can be  
referred to as a "law" is a little too mushy a definition for my tastes.

Michael
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.thepsychfiles.com


On Aug 12, 2008, at 10:24 AM, Stuart McKelvie wrote:

> Dear Michael,
>
> This may only throw a huge spanner in the works, but McBurney and  
> White's book on research methods use the term "law" as equivalent to  
> "relationship". So, for example, the frustration-aggression  
> hypothesis is a law for them. There would be many "laws" with this  
> approach!
>
> Stuart
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Stuart J. McKelvie, Ph.D.,     Phone: (819)822-9600, Extension 2402
> Department of Psychology,              Fax: (819)822-9661
> Bishop's University,
> 2600 College Street,
> Sherbrooke,
> Québec J1M 1Z7,
> Canada.
>
> E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Bishop's University Psychology Department Web Page:
> http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
> ___________________________________________________________
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: August 12, 2008 10:14 AM
> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)
> Subject: [tips] "Laws" in psychology
>
> In a recent episode of my podcast I stated that contrary to the
> advocates of The Secret (who claim that the "law of attraction" is a
> "fundamental law in psychology"), I knew of only two concepts in
> psychology which are referred to as "laws" - Thorndike's Law of Effect
> and Weber's law.  Fellow tipster Blaine Peden reminded me that there
> are some more that he could think of - the Gestalt laws of perception,
> Emmert's Law, and Herrstein's Matching Law.  We may argue as to what
> constitutes a "law" in psychology and whether the aforementioned
> belong in that definition, but Blaine had a good suggestion: is anyone
> in TIPS aware of any other laws in psychology?  I'd be happy to amend
> my podcast on this topic 
> (http://www.thepsychfiles.com/2008/07/21/episode-64-a-scientist-goes-looking-for-a-self-help-book/
> ).
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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