Vladimir Lefebvre
Encyclopedia
Vladimir Lefebvre is a mathematical psychologist
at the University of California, Irvine
. He has created equation
s that are supposed to predict the large-scale consequences of individual actions. Among the parameter
s in the equations are the self image
of the individual and the action as perceived via this self image. The result is a number
expressing the probability that the individual in question will perform a specific action.
Lefebvre's mathematical approach to social psychology
is often referred to as reflexive theory - presumably due to the 'reflexive' nature of taking into account subjects' self-image(s). Lefebvre developed Reflexive Theory as a military researcher in the former Soviet Union
, where he was born and educated prior to coming to the United States. According to Jonathan Farley, a mathematician at Stanford doing applied work on national security
issues, Lefebvre's Reflexive Theory was a Soviet alternative to game theory
which had been widely adopted by the American defense establishment.
Mathematical psychology
Mathematical psychology is an approach to psychological research that is based on mathematical modeling of perceptual, cognitive and motor processes, and on the establishment of law-like rules that relate quantifiable stimulus characteristics with quantifiable behavior...
at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
. He has created equation
Equation
An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions. In modern notation, this is written by placing the expressions on either side of an equals sign , for examplex + 3 = 5\,asserts that x+3 is equal to 5...
s that are supposed to predict the large-scale consequences of individual actions. Among the parameter
Parameter
Parameter from Ancient Greek παρά also “para” meaning “beside, subsidiary” and μέτρον also “metron” meaning “measure”, can be interpreted in mathematics, logic, linguistics, environmental science and other disciplines....
s in the equations are the self image
Self image
A person's self-image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change, that depicts not only details that are potentially available to objective investigation by others A person's self-image is the mental picture, generally of a kind that is quite resistant to change,...
of the individual and the action as perceived via this self image. The result is a number
Number
A number is a mathematical object used to count and measure. In mathematics, the definition of number has been extended over the years to include such numbers as zero, negative numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and complex numbers....
expressing the probability that the individual in question will perform a specific action.
Lefebvre's mathematical approach to social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
is often referred to as reflexive theory - presumably due to the 'reflexive' nature of taking into account subjects' self-image(s). Lefebvre developed Reflexive Theory as a military researcher in the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, where he was born and educated prior to coming to the United States. According to Jonathan Farley, a mathematician at Stanford doing applied work on national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
issues, Lefebvre's Reflexive Theory was a Soviet alternative to game theory
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
which had been widely adopted by the American defense establishment.
External links
- The Mathematics of Social Ethics: Reflexive Theory and 'The Torturer's Dilemma' - an introductory overview of 'reflexive theory' (as applied to issues in the War on TerrorismWar on TerrorismThe War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
) at Econophysics Blog - Vladimir Lefebvre, PhD - Vladimir Lefebvre bio at the Center for Advanced Defense StudiesCenter for Advanced Defense StudiesThe Center for Advanced Defense Studies is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, non-governmental, and non-partisan national security group. The organization focuses on promoting research, providing education and influencing policy about global security issues...