Citation

Morley IE. Leg. Crim. Psychol. 1996; 1(2): 271-286.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, British Psychological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.2044-8333.1996.tb00325.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Jackson (1996) has used a theory of structural semiotics (based on the work of Greimas) to provide a critique of Wagenaar, van Koppen & Crombag's theory of anchored narrative (and other cognate work). Here, his critique is located within a wider framework of research and theory in psychology and philosophy. I conclude that the concept of narrative has been used both to talk about the practices of sense making and to identify those reflective practices which constitute good thinking. I argue that the work of Wagenaar and his colleagues combines these themes in interesting and important ways. I argue that the work of philosophers such as Goldman (1986) provides a satisfactory epistemological foundation for work in this tradition. It is concluded that, whilst Jackson makes a number of important points, he does not succeed in showing that Greimas' semiotic conception of narrative provides a more useful framework for understanding explanation-based decision making.

Language: en