Descriptive Psychology, what is it:

Descriptive Psychology:

Descriptive Psychology (DP) is a discipline created by Peter G. Ossorio in the 1960s. It offers a systematic framework for describing and understanding all forms of human behavior, without assuming any specific psychological theory (like Freudian, cognitive-behavioral, or neuroscientific). Instead of explaining behavior through causes or mechanisms, it focuses on accurate, formal descriptions of what people do, why, and in what context.

Here are the core ideas of Descriptive Psychology:

1. Person Concept

At the heart of DP is the Person Concept — a formal, conceptual model that defines a person as:

“An individual whose behavior is intentional and rational, and who is capable of choice.”

In DP, understanding a person means understanding their behavioral patterns, values, knowledge, and social roles.

2. Behavior as Intentional Action

DP treats behavior as deliberate action, not just reaction. Every action is analyzed in terms of:

  • Actor — Who is acting?
  • Action — What are they doing?
  • Goal — What is the intended outcome?
  • Know-how — What knowledge or skills are being used?
  • Performance — How well is the action carried out?
  • Significance — What does the action mean to the actor?

3. Parametric Analysis of Behavior

Ossorio introduced a formal grammar for describing actions in a systematic way — like using a template. 

  • I = Identity of the actor
  • W = Wants/goals
  • K = Knowledge
  • KH = Know-how
  • P = Performance
  • S = Significance
  • V = Values

4. The Concept of Status and Position

In DP, every person has a status (who they are in a given context) and a position (where they stand in a social framework). Understanding these helps explain behavior without reducing it to biology or psychology.

5. The State of Affairs System

DP includes a method for mapping “states of affairs” — what is happening in a situation, who is involved, and how the parts relate. This helps understand the context of behavior.

Applications

Descriptive Psychology is used in:

  • Clinical psychology (making sense of therapy cases)
  • Forensics (behavioral analysis)
  • Artificial intelligence (designing systems that model human-like decisions)
  • Ethics and decision-making (clarifying values and judgments)

 In Summary

Descriptive Psychology is not a theory of behavior — it’s a framework for describing and understanding it. It’s like the grammar of psychology, helping you talk precisely about what people do, why, and under what conditions, without reducing them to mechanisms or pathologies.

Shervan K Shahhian