2026 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 126-138
Conventional models based on classical probability theory face limitations in providing a unified explanation for complex psychological phenomena in human cognition. This paper presents quantum-like models, grounded in non-commutative probability theory, a mathematical structure used for foundations of quantum theory, to describe these phenomena and introduce a new framework to the field of humanities. We introduce instrument models and path integral models as representative examples of this approach. We then present a methodology for empirically validating those quantum-like models by using a practical quantum computer as a quantum simulator. Specifically, we detail two quantum algorithms: one that reproduces the Clinton–Gore statistics from a public opinion poll, and another that implements an arbitrary instrument model on a quantum computer. This approach extends the concept of quantum falsifiability, the idea that predictions of the quantum theory can only be verified or falsified by devices that follow quantum principles, from physical to human psychological phenomena. This paper goes beyond mere technological application, presenting a novel scientific methodology that uses a quantum computer as a device to reproduce phenomena themselves. We anticipate this intellectual shift will dissolve the boundaries between the humanities and natural sciences, fostering a reintegration of knowledge at a critical turning point.
