Finite Automata as a Tool for Modeling Psychological Phenomena

Explore a 20-minute conference talk from Models of Consciousness Conferences that demonstrates how finite automata, a theoretical computer science tool, can effectively model psychological and consciousness theories. Learn how this approach translates complex psychological concepts into finite-state models, offering advantages such as educational clarity, transdisciplinary applications, mathematical formalization for identifying theoretical ambiguities, and comparative analysis capabilities. Discover a practical demonstration through an enriched finite automata model of Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Theory of Stress, focusing on cognitive appraisal and coping mechanisms, showcasing how computational frameworks can bridge the gap between computer science and psychological modeling since the cognitive revolution of the 1950s.