Drawing on sources from a wide range of disciplines, this first volume of a two volume tutorial on systems theory focuses on non-linear dynamical techniques for analysis of feedback processes, information flow, decision making, control theory, and modeling of human behavioral systems.

foreword by Hermann Haken For the past twenty years Scott Kelso's research has focused on extending the physical concepts of self- organization and the mathematical tools of nonlinear dynamics to understand how human beings (and human brains) perceive, intend, learn, control, and coordinate complex behaviors. In this book Kelso proposes a new, general framework within which to connect brain, mind, and behavior.Kelso's prescription for mental life breaks dramatically with the classical computational approach that is still the operative framework for many newer psychological and neurophysiological studies. His core thesis is that the creation and evolution of patterned behavior at all levels--from neurons to mind--is governed by the generic processes of self-organization. Both human brain and behavior are shown to exhibit features of pattern-forming dynamical systems, including multistability, abrupt phase transitions, crises, and intermittency. Dynamic Patterns brings together different aspects of this approach to the study of human behavior, using simple experimental examples and illustrations to convey essential concepts, strategies, and methods, with a minimum of mathematics. Kelso begins with a general account of dynamic pattern formation. He then takes up behavior, focusing initially on identifying pattern-forming instabilities in human sensorimotor coordination. Moving back and forth between theory and experiment, he establishes the notion that the same pattern-forming mechanisms apply regardless of the component parts involved (parts of the body, parts of the nervous system, parts of society) and the medium through which the parts are coupled. Finally, employing the latest techniques to observe spatiotemporal patterns of brain activity, Kelso shows that the human brain is fundamentally a pattern forming dynamical system, poised on the brink of instability. Self-organization thus underlies the cooperative action of neurons that produces human behavior in all its forms.

A dynamical system refers to a set of elements that interact in complex, often nonlinear ways to form coherent patterns. Because of the complexity of these interactions, the system as a whole may evolve over time in seemingly unpredictable ways as new patterns of behavior emerge. This metatheory has proven useful in understanding diverse phenomena in meteorology, population biology, statistical mechanics, economics, and cosmology. The book demonstrates how the dynamical systems perspective can be applied to theory construction and research in social psychology, and in doing so, provides fresh insight into such complex phenomena as interpersonal behavior, social relations, attitudes, and social cognition.

This volume offers a comprehensive and conceptually integrated overview of the changing biological, psychological, and social/environmental influences on health and illness from the prenatal period through infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Based on the premise that protective and risk factors vary with life stage, several chapters examine the development of major biological systems and the changing role of genetics and environment over time. In addition, they provide information on environmental influences during the prenatal period and early childhood, chronic illness in childhood, and health and health risks in adolescence. Chapters on adulthood give special emphasis to mid-life transitions in health, resiliency in later life, and the impact of caregiving on health. Final chapters focus on death and dying and on an integrative model of health and illness across the life span.

The feedback model of self-regulation developed by the authors of the lead article in this volume has been one of the most successful theoretical formulations of regulatory processes to date. The range of phenomena to which this framework potentially applies is evident from its ability to incorporate implications of other conceptualizations as diverse as catastrophe theory and dynamic systems theory. The diversity of issues and approaches dealt with by Carver and Scheier is matched by the companion articles, which are written from perspectives ranging across developmental psychology, cognitive science, clinical psychology, and organizational decision making, as well as mainstream social cognition.

This comprehensive handbook, the first in its field, brings together 106 different contributors. The 38 interrelated but at the same time independent chapters discuss key areas including conceptual frameworks; empirically grounded constructs; intervention strategies and tactics; social systems; designs, assessment, and analysis; cross-cutting professional issues; and contemporary intersections with related fields such as violence prevention and HIV/AIDS.

The question of how to deal with adverse feedback to high-stakes foreign policy speaks to a number of important, current scenarios in international relations. The esteemed contributors to this book offer explanations and illustrative case studies of critical choice points in foreign and national security policy. Competing theories from several of disciplines, primarily psychology, political science, and management, offer insights into a subject that has been very little studied in foreign policy, yet is as current as today’s headlines.

The nature of this book is to emphasize the inherent complexity and richness of the human experience of change. Now, the author believes there to be an acceptable "scientific" explanation for this phenomona. Explored here are 30 years of studies to describe nonlinear dynamics, today termed either chaos theory or complexity theory. The connotations of both theories are discussed at length. Offering social scientists validation in their attempts to describe and define phenomona of a previously ineffable nature, this book explores chaos' implications for psychology and the social sciences. It describes the benefits psychology can glean from using ideas in chaos theory and applying them to psychology in general, individual psycho-therapy, couples therapy, and community psychology, and also considers possible directions for research and application.

This book represents the best of the first three years of the Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology conferences. While chaos theory has been a topic of considerable interest in the physical and biological sciences, its applications in psychology and related fields have been obscured until recently by its complexity. Nevertheless, a small but rapidly growing community of psychologists, neurobiologists, sociologists, mathematicians, and philosophers have been coming together to discuss its implications and explore its research possibilities. Chaos theory has been termed the first authentic paradigm shift since the advent of quantum physics. Whether this is true or not, it unquestionably bears profound implications for many fields of thought. These include the cognitive analysis of the mind, the nature of personality, the dynamics of psychotherapy and counseling, understanding brain events and behavioral records, the dynamics of social organization, and the psychology of prediction. To each of these topics, chaos theory brings the perspective of dynamic self-organizing processes of exquisite complexity. Behavior, the nervous system, and social processes exhibit many of the classical characteristics of chaotic systems -- they are deterministic and globally predictable and yet do not submit to precise predictability. This volume is the first to explore ideas from chaos theory in a broad, psychological perspective. Its introduction, by the prominent neuroscientist Walter Freeman, sets the tone for diverse discussions of the role of chaos theory in behavioral research, the study of personality, psychotherapy and counseling, mathematical cognitive psychology, social organization, systems philosophy, and the understanding of the brain.

Effective healthcare is vital to prevent illnesses and injuries, to provide treatments and rehabilitation from illnesses and injuries, and to enhance physical, psychological, and social health and well-being. Twenty-first-century healthcare has become a “team sport” that requires multidisciplinary teams with diverse knowledge, skills, abilities, perspectives, and wisdom. Multidisciplinary healthcare teams include physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and other healthcare practitioners; healthcare researchers, scholars, and educators; healthcare administrators and policymakers; as well as patients and patients’ significant others. This volume includes chapters that address multidisciplinary teams from many different professional, scholarly, and experiential perspectives of experts around the globe. The chapters are written by scholars, practitioners, and educators from Canada, Grenada, Iran, Nigeria, Norway, Qatar, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States. It is the goal of this volume to increase understanding of what factors improve and detract from effective multidisciplinary teamwork in healthcare in order to improve its application and enhance the well-being of patients, practitioners, and all members of healthcare teams. Topics addressed in this volume include teams and team members, the importance and benefits of teamwork in healthcare, teamwork skills, and enablers, creating and optimizing healthcare teams, team challenges, and educating healthcare professionals for multidisciplinary teams. Each chapter stands alone to make meaningful contributions regarding multidisciplinary teamwork in healthcare. Together, the chapters in this volume provide a valuable and thoughtful discussion of multidisciplinary teams in healthcare along with a comprehensive list of references for readers who want to dig deeper.