The Black Box of Public Encounters: Adopting a biopsychosocial model for interactions between citizens and the State

The emerging field of research on interactions between citizens and the State has advanced considerably, giving rise to various frameworks and methodologies for exploring the tangible aspects of these encounters. Scholars have dedicated significant efforts to understanding the who and what go into these public encounters (stimulus); the actions, behaviors, and results that occur from the interaction (response), as well as methods and other necessary aspects that factor into public encounters. Yet, while the field has made progress in its examinations, it grapples with a persistent challenge: the limited insight into the inner workings of these interactions, including how they are experienced by those involved. This, of course, is a significant challenge for research: encounters between citizens and the State are not merely inter-personal, in such a way that it is sufficient to examine them as a stimulus-response equation. These exchanges are also profoundly inner-personal because, at their foundation, they occur within the bodies and minds of the individuals involved. It is at the inner-personal level where an individual—whether it be the citizen or the State actor—experiences the encounter, which then shapes their behavior in the interaction and determines their actions after it. The question of how individuals experience these encounters has remained elusive, rendering the internal processes shaping public interactions a mystery, a “black box” of sorts. To date, the critical question of what happens in this “black box” of felt experience—what mediates and shapes these encounters—remains unanswered. Scholars have therefore been left to work around this "black box" that obstructs the ability to understand the invisible forces that shape and steer these interactions. To advance the study of public encounters and unmask the inner workings within public encounters, this project introduces a novel perspective—a biopsychosocial (BPS) model—to address this challenge. By adopting the BPS model, we aim to delve into the inner-personal factors underpinning public encounters. A BPS model presents the opportunity to reframe the approach to public encounters, shifting the focus from inputs, outcomes, or improvement strategies to considering the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence these interactions. Incorporating a BPS model into examination of public encounters offers a unique opportunity for scholars and practitioners: the ability to use biopsychosocial assessments to understand the felt experience of public encounters, as well as to inform service delivery for a more tailored, effective, and empathetic approach to public service provision, addressing the diverse needs of citizens from a holistic perspective. By embracing a BPS model, the study of the relational dynamics of public encounters will increasingly be able to shed light on the complex interplay of biology, psychology, and social factors within these interactions, ultimately fostering more meaningful and responsive relationships between citizens and the government.