The play King Lear is a thought experiment on sudden and drastic changes in power distribution and the consequent changes in the behavior of the individuals who have changed power positions. The change in power distribution serves as the independent variable, with the behavioral changes that follow serving as dependent variables. King Lear impulsively decides to abandon his royal duties, but not necessarily his royal privileges. He hands over his duties and his properties to his two older daughters; his third daughter is disinherited because she fails to subserviently express devotion to him. But the influence of the power shifts on the three daughters is not according to Lear’s plans: the two older daughters turn against him, while his youngest, disinherited daughter remains loyal. In line with psychological research on power and corruption, some individuals who gain absolute power become absolutely corrupt.

The play Macbeth has traditionally been interpreted through mainstream psychological concepts that are reductionist and dispositional. That is, characteristics within Macbeth, such as his “ambition,” seem to explain the play. From another perspective, this play is a thought experiment on the power of scaffolding, constructed around Macbeth through various agents (mainly the Three Witches and Lady Macbeth). Vygotsky’s concept of scaffolding is applied to interpreting the play Macbeth, through a distinction between “M” (”Micro”) and “E” (”Extended”) components of personalty. “M” personality refers to the intrapersonal, fixed, causal agents that are assumed in mainstream psychology to cause certain behavior patterns. “E” personality refers to the contextual factors that shape behavior. The play Macbeth represents a thought experiment demonstrating the power of “E” personality.