Using functional fields to formally represent the meaning and logic of behavior: A worked example using Dark Triad-related actions

We describe and illustrate how functional fields can be used to represent the psychological situation, and consequently to understand the meaning and logic of different types of behavior, using the example of actions related to Dark Triad personality dimensions: narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. In doing so, we describe how functional field representations connect to expectancy-value and rational actor models of psychological processes (e.g., Bandura, 1977; Feather, 1982; Heckhausen, 1977), and provide a number of guidelines for estimating these models empirically through the use of elaborated situational judgment tests (SJTs). As we show, functional fields can be regarded as causal models or network structures with constraints that better formalize common assumptions regarding the functional nature of behavior. Functional field models also point to the value of operationalizing psychological process variables as expected causal relationships between features of the environment, ultimately operationalized at the 'between-possible-action' level of analysis which is central to causal processes.