The Bigger Picture: Theory to Practice

Discontinuity

THEE is a comprehensive, dynamic mapping of all categories that exist in the psychosocial realm. Using taxonomic frameworks neither requires nor rejects commitment to any particular theoretical position. So you may expect to be able to directly apply the findings. But that is often unrealistic. The Taxonomy specifies fundamental patterns (Frameworks), and it takes effort to develop those for practical use.

Analogy

People built bridges before the principles of physics were discovered. No-one would ignore this knowledge now, and far bigger and stronger bridges can be built as a result. The same applies for personal and social tasks. If the principles revealed by a THEE framework are appreciated, management of situations or projects becomes easier and more ambitious endeavours are possible. Just as physical principles require conversion into engineering principles which divide and sub-divide into numerous engineering sub-disciplines and technologies, so THEE also lends itself to differentiation into domains and numerous discrete applications.

To appreciate the issues, consider physical theory. There are many discontinuous stages between recognizing, for example, that sunlight is a form of energy, and switching on an electric light. You are not surprised that each stage requires dedicated investigation and hard work. Something comparable must be expected to apply to fundamental psychosocial discoveries too.

Click to see this analogy in more detail:

Discontinuous Stages in
Moving from Theory to Practice

Harnessing Physical Energy	Harnessing Social Potential
Delineate physical domains.	Delineate the domains of Will.
↓	↓
Develop and test relevant theories.	Develop and validate relevant Frameworks.
↓	↓
Identify key principles to harness energy.	Identify key principles &/or mentalities intrinsic to effectiveness.
↓	↓
Develop theory for harnessing energy in practice (e.g. based on combustion, wind, solar, nuclear).	Develop an axiomatic basis usable in all relevant situations: e.g. individual, organizational, governmental.
↓	↓
Devise a general design for a specific type of energy-generating device.	Devise a general application for a particular social domain &/or a specific situation.
↓	↓
Prepare plans for a specific device.	Model a particular case of that type.
↓	↓
Design and build in a particular place: adapting to funds, location, equipment &c, using prototypes to learn.	Design and implement via specific people: adapting to funding, political issues, circumstances &c, learning through experience.

Alternatives

Because this move from idea to discovery to theory to application has occurred over many decades, even centuries in natural sciences, we take the stages for granted. Yet in harnessing social potential, results often seem to be expected in months if not weeks.

I understand that most everyone prefers to work at the more concrete end, rather than at the necessarily abstract beginning. But rejecting and neglecting fundamentals makes little sense. The logic of science calls for a language of direct reference to come first, so it can be used to determine frameworks for the domain of interest.

Such a general framework then needs to be adapted in language, extent &/or detail to the particular type of human system (e.g. person, family, organization). Yet further adaptation is required to suit a particular instance of that system. Often the particular case within that instance demands yet more adaptation, and in the heat of intervention, unavoidable situational pressures (often political or personality-based) lead to further judicious adjustment. Through all this, the original fundamentals must never be forgotten.

Click for a Table of tools from the most abstract to the most concrete.

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• Read more about developing knowledge for action.
• Examine a more detailed Table showing a formal gradation of tools from the theoretical to the practical.

Originally posted: July 2009; Last amended: 14-Oct-2016