Mutualism model

Instead of seeing a range of positively correlated variables as emerging from a single latent trait influences them all, this framework sees these variables as influencing each other. Beneficial reciprocal causal interactions between variables will give rise to the same phenomena that a latent-factor model would without the necessity of influence from any unobservable latent trait.

Modeling frameworks
Causal Graphs

Graphical models that represent causal relationships between variables.

More details
Psychology disciplines
Cognitive Psychology
DOI