Gregg R. Henriques, Ph.D.
Gregg R. Henriques, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at James Madison University. Dr. Henriques' primary area of scholarly interest is the development of a new scientific humanistic philosophy called the Tree of Knowledge (ToK) System, which offers a new template for conceptualizing the sciences in general and psychology in particular. He published the outline of his theory in 2003, and this article was followed by two special issues of the Journal of Clinical Psychology (Dec 04 and Jan 05) which elaborated and evaluated many aspects of the model. More information about the Tree of Knowledge may be found at http://psychweb.cisat.jmu.edu/ToKSystem/. One of the key ideas in the ToK System that is particularly relevant to the study of beliefs and values is the Justification Hypothesis (JH). The JH is a theory of the human mind that links the evolution of language with self-consciousness and the evolution of culture. The JH provides a theoretical framework for why self-consciousness exhibits the features it does and offers a functionally grounded understanding of beliefs and values. Specifically, through the lens of the JH, beliefs and values form interlocking justification systems that function to legitimize the flow of resources in a particular direction. At a practical level, the JH provides a way to achieve greater self-awareness regarding the processes underlying formation of our own beliefs and values and the linkages between our motives and our reasons.
