9th Summer Conference
PROGRAM
ABSTRACTS
Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology
and Life Sciences
Berkeley,
CA July 23 to July 26, 1999
LISTING OF ABSTRACTS
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Revised 6/28/99 Bob Porter
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LISTING OF ABSTRACTS
Social poker: A new laboratory paradigm for studying the self-organized formation of small groups
Holly Arrow, Department of Psychology, & Scott Crosson, Department of Political Science, University of Oregon, Eugene OR, 97403-1227.
The experimental study of small groups has neglected the question of how groups form, in part because laboratory groups are typically formed by randomly assigning people to groups. Studying the emergence of groups in natural settings is also problematic, since one must anticipate the emergence of groups that do not yet exist. To facilitate the study of self-organized group formation, we have developed a laboratory paradigm, ?social poker,? in which groups emerge from a set of people who have different sets of resources (cards) which they can pool to form hands and earn money. Preliminary results using this paradigm indicate that one variable that influences the size of groups is whether people expect to interact once with fellow group members or over a series of rounds. We are also investigating how initial discussions and choices affect members? likelihood of maximizing the income of the group through cooperative behavior (one attractor) or falling into a suboptimal ?trap? of mutual exploitation (another attractor). We are exploring, using data from videotaped interaction and questionnaires completed by group members, how individuals in some groups that do fall into this trap are able to coordinate an escape from mutual exploitation.
Phys
Neuron synchronization mathematical phenomenology
M.Balduzzo, Universia' di Padova I F. Ferro Milone, Universia' di Verona I T.A. Minelli, Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Universita' e Sez. INFN-Padova I and L. Turicchia, Universia' di Padova I
The neuron synchronization has been hypothesized as the basic mechanism leading both neurological phenomena as the low electroencephalographic rhythm dimension and cognitive processes as the associative memory. After an outline of the attempts to describe electroencephalographic activity and cognitive processes in terms of this phenomenon, an extension of the integrate and fire (i&f) model endowed with Hebbian reinforcement has been applied to the synaptic growth phenomenology. The underlying mechanism, founded on the assumption of a selective augment of excitatory coupling, accompanied by a surplus of synchronization, has been implemented in the i&f model by introducing firing coincidence counters or similar devices. The i&f neural network obtained has been tested to simulate the feature binding mechanism, the relationship between rhythm and synaptic growth evolution and related phenomena.
Methods
Wave methods in complex systems investigation.
Prof. M. Basin, Scientific Research Center "Synergetics" of SPb Association of Scientists and Scholars.
In the paper are presented the foundations of wave theory of complex systems development and interaction. The new classification of waves, vortexes, dipole and multiple structures and transport-information systems is considered. Theoretically and experimentally is investigated new phenomena, which was called by the author as vortex-wave resonance. Degree statistical laws of elements distribution in self-organizing transport-information systems are investigated theoretically and there resonance character is discovered. The interaction of structures and systems is presented as occasion-structure graph of evolution. Main general coordinates: time, structures action and probability, - of this graph are considered. Complex wave vector - matrix of action-entropy-information as the main characteristic of interacting structures system is introduced. Complex number action-entropy-information as an invariant of introduced matrix is received. Three types of entropy-information are distinguished: entropy-information of the future, entropy-information of the present and entropy-information of the past. The connections between these values are stated. The theorem about the possibility of probability and action parts of vector-matrix division is proved. The generalization of Schredinger equation for complex wave vector - matrix is received. New hypothesis about resonance character of the live arising are suggested and new theoretically approach to the multiplication of living structures is worked out.
Phys
Is Meditation Good for the Mind? A chaos analysis of the EEG in meditation
Dick Bird & Marios Kittenis, Division of Psychology, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
EEG measurements were made from experienced meditators over seven time epochs: before, during and after meditation. The samples were taken from four cortical areas: the frontal area, the left and right temporal areas and the occipital area. The samples were analysed for complexity using two measures: the largest Lyapunov exponent (LE) and the point correlation dimension (PD2i). Results indicate that there are differences in brain complexity induced by meditation, and that overall they are in the direction of increased complexity after, as compared to before, meditation. A significant interaction was found between area and epoch for changes in PD2i, indicating increased complexity of the right hemisphere. These findings are discussed in the context of a rebound hypothesis of brain complexity following meditation.
Emerg Symp
An emerging theory of emergence
Dick Bird, Division of Psychology, University of Northumbria; Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. NE1 8ST
A fundamental question in emergence is: How can a new property appear from a combination of elements, none of which in itself has that property? The traditional approach to analysis in the physical sciences is that of atomic theory - where "atoms" are indivisible particles with few properties, but in such a theory it is very hard to explain how anything new arises. An alternative approach, and one less followed, is to adopt a system of fundamental particles in which each of them mirrors the properties of the whole world as Gottfried Leibniz proposed in his "Monadology". In such a system there would be no need to explain the production of new properties since they are already there. Self-similarity and self-reference are important topics of modern mathematics. Many systems display self-similarity, including fractals, consciousness and, possibly, super-strings - the current candidate "atoms" of physics (Quantum Mind, 1999). Iteration, the fundamental process by which many properties emerge, is generative of self-similarity. When iteration is viewed as its inverse operation of recursion, this can be restated as the proposition that recursion gives rise to self-similarity. Since all properties enter consciousness, all of them are in this sense recursive. Following this idea, Bird (1998) suggested a system of units called "monads" (in tribute to Leibniz) where the monad is identified as the set of all recursive properties. In this model, a particular property emerges as a result of a given combination, or sequence, of monads; a new sequence revealing a new property from the total set available. This theory is reconsidered, illustrated and discussed with especial relation to consciousness. References: Bird, D., 1998. "Atoms Monads and Emergence." Acta Polytechnica Scandinavica, Mathematics Computing and Management in Engineering Series No. 91. Finnish Academy of Technology, Espoo, Finland. Quantum Mind: 3rd May - 4th May 1999: HYPERLINK http://listserv.arizona.edu/lsv/www/quantum-mind.html http://listserv.arizona.edu/lsv/www/quantum-mind.html
Emerg Symp
Emergence in Psychology and the Life Sciences
Mark A. Bedau,Department of Philosophy, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., Portland OR 97202, USA.
Emergent phenomena are constituted by and generated from underlying phenomena, and at the same time they are autonomous from those underlying phenomena. Emergent phenomena are ubiquitous in the systems studied in psychology and in the life sciences, and the language of emergence is commonly used to refer to the behavior of many recent models in these sciences, especially those models in the so-called sciences of complexity. This paper defines an empirical and objective conception of emergence that applies to those models and to the natural phenomena they explain, and it explains some key challenges that must be addressed before we can model the robust, multiple-levelled, supplely adapting emergent behavior that is characteristic of living and intelligent systems.
Self-organizing processes in strategic interaction: Implications on price dynamics of investors' decisions
Gabriele Campello, Department of Psychology, Universita' di Padova, Padua, Italy and Mary Ann Metzger, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA, 21250.
Investors often behave anomalously when compared to norms derived from economic theories of the rational investor. The field of behavioral finance integrates theories of rational economic behavior with theories of psychological processes (heuristics) governing investors' decisions under uncertainty. The question has arisen whether the rational norm is always better than the behavioral heuristic in understanding or using market dynamics. Although in economic theory the market is essentially unpredictable except for rapid transients, technical concepts assuming predictability such as trends, support, and resistance, are in the ordinary financial language and conceptual instruments of most traders and recent studies also supported the hypothesis of chaotic motions of financial prices. It is possible that investors' heuristics are based upon actual short-term predictability of the market. Following this direction we simulated investors' strategic decisions with a group of students interacting through linked computers. For each decision we provided as feedback only the effects on the aggregate market values. We hypothesized that the dynamic of individual decisions based on reciprocal expectations would generate deterministic patterns in the aggregate time series. We expected that self-organizing processes would make the time-series of the aggregate predictable in the short run. Our results suggest that intuitive decisions made as a result of observing price dynamics might be not irrational, but rather a reasonable reliance on shot-term predictability.
Org
Search for the Application of Complexity Theory to Organization Management: GA-Based Simulation
Choi, Chang-Hyeon, Dept. of Public Administration, College of Law & Public Administration, Kwandong University, 522 Naegok-dong, Kangnung City, Korea, 210-701. E-mail : choich@mail. kwandong.ac.kr and Ko, Kil-Kon, College of Public Administration, Seoul National University, Seoul City, Korea
Complexity is an important variable to organization theory. We focus on how organizations evolve and how organizational routines change according to the degree of complexity. As the complexity of organization depends on the intercorrelational strength among routines, we use NK model to describe the organizational fitness landscape and the degree of complexity. Especially, from the characteristics of evolving organizations we use Genetic Algorithm based simulations to describe how organizations adapt and evolve. In this process, we show the exponential increments of knowledge and desirable routines as time goes on and the need for exchange of information among individuals in complex environment. Moreover organizations should get over the 'premature problem' or 'lock-in effect' trapped in local optimum with the mutation techniques such as outsourcing new routines from other organizations. We also find the three developing stages such as dramatical improvement, formation of the structure with accumulated improvements and incremental improvement. This suggests that organization's strategy to the environment should be launched according to its history i.e., stages and levels of complexity. We draw 3 by 3 strategy matrix of how organizations handle this problem.
Org
Application of Complexity Theory to The Relation Between Organization and Its Environment.
Choi, Chang-Hyeon, Dept. of Public Administration, College of Law & Public Administration, Kwandong University, 522 Naegok-dong, Kangnung City, Korea, 210-701 and Park, Sang-Kyu, College of Public Administration, Chungnam National University, Daejun City, Korea
We propose that the reform of public organization can be better explored by the application of complexity theory. Complexity theory is essential to a holistic strategy for creating the self-organizing public agency. The attributes of the self-organization are organizational learning, interaction, mutual causality, ecological evolution and positve feedback. The self-organization agency may be complex adaptive system. CAS is the basic mechanism of sustainability and responsiblity to environmental changes. We delve into the framework of reference for innovative governmental organization by the application of complexity theory.
Soc
Will You Remember Me In The Morning: The Dynamics of Social Networks Examining Risky Behavior in Urban Adolescents and Young Adults
S. Clair, Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, CT, USA, 06106; J. J. Schensul, Institute for Community Research, Hartford, CT, USA, 06106; R. Pino, Institute for Community Research, Hartford, CT, USA, 06106; and M. Levitt, Institute for Community Research, Hartford, CT, USA, 06106.
An emerging trend in applied social science research has been the use of social network analysis. A central component of this method requires individuals to identify those persons that participants consider to be members of their social network. One issue rarely addressed in the empirical literature is how these social networks change and evolve over time. The current study is designed to help answer this question. Initial results suggest that the social networks are in fact quite dynamic entities even over a relative short, one to two week, period of time and that the degree of stability over time varies dramatically across individuals. However, "key members" are more likely to be consistently recalled at both time points. This paper will discuss those factors identified as contributing to variations over time and across participants in a study of network reliability in young marijuana users. The varying dynamics seem to be due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: interviewer-participant rapport, participant memory, and the salience of the particular network members. (Research supported by the National Institute of Drug Abuse).
Com
The Dimensionality of Text
Kevin Dooley, Departments of Industrial Engineering and Management, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287; Steve Corman, Departments of Communication, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287; Robert McPhee, Departments of Communication, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287
The concept of "dimension" has been successfully employed and operationalized to explain various phenomena in a variety of fields. We shall develop several definitions of the "dimension" of a text (writing or conversation), operationalize and demonstrate each definition, and compare. These include a text's centrality degree dimension, centrality betweeness dimension, and fractal dimension. We will put forth propositions regarding the generative mechanisms, or contexts, of low versus high dimensional text.
Org
The Inherent Complexity of Supply Networks
Kevin Dooley, Departments of Industrial Engineering and Management, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287; Thomas Choi, Departments of Management and Supply Chain Management, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287
A supply network (or supply chain) is a configuration of firms linking suppliers of raw material and knowledge to their industrial customer(s). Traditionally supply chain managers have viewed the system as mechanistic and deterministic--"we can manage it better if we just control it better". We shall present a model of a supply network as a complex adaptive system, and discuss the theoretical and practical implications of such a model. Examples will be drawn from the automotive and telecommunications industries.
Workshop
Understanding Complex Organizational Dynamics
Kevin Dooley, Arizona State University
There continues to be convergence between new organizational theory, new methods for studying organizations, complex adaptive systems theory, and nonlinear dynamical theory. The purpose of this workshop is to expose participants to the concepts and techniques for performing processual research. Process theories, as opposed to variance theories, seek to explain how systems behave over time. Knowledge of such behavior can be indicative of the underlying generative mechanisms driving the system. In organizational settings these mechanisms can be described by their dimensionality and interconnectedness. We shall explore how different generative mechanisms give rise to different dynamical patterns, and what this means in terms of organizational theory and practice. We shall also discuss the various research method issues used in developing such understandings.
Phys
Chaotic dynamics of gamma activity underlying human cognition
Walter J Freeman, Dep't Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley CA 94720-3200 USA
What is gamma activity in the EEG, how is it generated, and what is its role in perception? A widespread misconception is that gamma activity is "40 Hz". No, it is broad band chaotic oscillation. Another misconception is that it is a microscopic property of single neurons. No, it is a macroscopic property of interactive neural ensembles. Gamma is readily detected in population measures (EEG and MEG), while it can be demonstrated in unit activity only by time ensemble averaging, which brains do poorly if at all. The failure to recognize and deal with macroscopic neural masses leads to confusion and bafflement. An analogy would be trying to understand viscosity and translucence by investigating water molecules one at a time. Yet another misconception is that gamma activity is due to thalamocortical feedback. No, the propagation times are too long and too diverse. Moreover, gamma is ubiquitous in the forebrain, including structures such as the olfactory bulb that have no direct thalamic connections. The self-organizing chaotic dynamics of gamma activity make perception a creative act, not passive information processing. New developments in signal processing have made it possible to observe measure gamma activity in human scalp EEGs during cognition.
Meth
Using the Ensemble Method to Study Nonlinear Dynamics
Barbara Bruhns Frey & Keith Clayton, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University
The application of nonlinear dynamical tools has spread rapidly into a diversity of fields ranging from biology to economics. Frequently, introductory books, such as Kantz & Schreiber's (1997) Nonlinear Time Series Analysis, recognize the utility of nonlinear dynamical tools for the social sciences. Despite the interest, very little progress has been made in developing tools for the social sciences. This is perhaps because of two limitations with social science data sets: noise and size. The ensemble method addresses the latter. The ensemble method consists of using ensembles of time series in conjunction with nonlinear dynamical tools to improve attractor reconstruction. This discussion examines the ensemble method along with several boundary conditions.
Psy
Enhancing Psychological Stability and Psychic Boundaries through the Exploration of Physical Stability and Physical Boundaries
Liane Gabora, Center Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Krijgskundestraat 33, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium
In the mind of a young child, discrete memories must somehow transform into an interconnected conceptual web, or worldview. In (Gabora 1998, 1999) I suggest this happens through an autocatalytic process analogous to that proposed by Kauffman (1993) to explain the origin of life; distributed storage and retrieval of memories prompt the emergence of abstractions, and as the density of abstractions increases, the probability they crystallize into an interconnected worldview increases exponentially. For this to happen, the sphere of concepts activated by any stimulus (that is, the extent to which storage/retrieval is distributed) must fall within an intermediate range; the system is poised at the proverbial 'edge of chaos'. A stable worldview is one that reinforces thought trajectories that enhance individual wellbeing. Many factors could interfere with this stability. Censorship and repression could lower the mutual information amongst memories and abstractions, leading to psychological instability, fragmented reality, or fractured personality. On the other hand, building on Rosenfield (1993), Sheets-Johnstone (1999), and Thelen & Smith (1994), physical play may enhance worldview stability. A kinesthetic understanding of balance and the physical self-other boundary may translate into increased psychological balance and autonomy. Similarly, the creative refinement of neuromuscular trajectories could transform into cognitive creativity. Gabora, L. (1998) Autocatalytic closure in a cognitive system: A tentative scenario for the evolution of culture. Psycoloquy,9:67. http://www.cogsci.soton.ac.uk/cgi/psyc/newpsy.9.67; ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/psyc.98.9.67.origin-culture.l.gabora Kauffman, S. A. (1993) Origins of order, Oxford University Press. Rosenfield, I. (1993) The strange, familiar, and forgotten: An anatomy of consciousness. Vintage. Sheets-Johnstone, M. (1999) The formal nature of emergent organization. In Proceedings of International Conference on Closure: Emergent Organizations and their Dynamics. Ghent, Belgium. Thelen, E. & Smith, L. B. (1994) A dynamical systems approach to the development of cognition and action. Bradford Boosk/MIT Press.
Emerg Symp
Complexity and the Metaphysics of Emergence
Carl Gillett, Department of Philosophy, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
Philosophers have been muted in their assessment of the implications of the sciences of complexity. I will argue that this muted reaction is partially explained by a mistaken metaphysical account of the emergence of properties. The philosophers Stephen Kellert (1993), David Newman (1996) and Mark Bedau (1997) have all argued that because complex systems are completely physically composed this implies they have few significant metaphysical implications. Most especially, they argue such systems cannot be instances of 'strong emergence', i.e. wholes which are in a strong sense more than the sum of their physical components. I show that these claims are based upon what I call the 'Dualism Argument', whose metaphysical assumptions about property emergence embodied I outline. I then sketch an alternative metaphysics, based on the causal theory of properties, which shows the Dualism Argument is unsound and the standard metaphysical assumptions about strong emergence are incorrect. This alternative metaphysics will show that strong emergence is compatible with a system being fully physically composed and I suggest this conclusion reveals important new possibilities for interpreting the metaphysical implications of complex systems. I conclude by detailing some of the issues central to such alternative interpretations.
Soc
Rejection of Exceptional-Creative Individuals by Conserving Others: The Turbulent Boundary Phenomenon
Merille Campbell Glover, M.A. (Candidate), Graduate Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Sacramento, California 95818 USA
This study proposes that the conflict experienced between Exceptional-Creative (EC) persons (Lovecky, 1986; Gregorc, 1982; Maslow, 1959 and May, 1959) and Conserving (C) persons (Lovecky, 1986; Beinfield and Korngold, 1991; Keirsey and Bates, 1984 and Gregorc, 1982) can be explained by Chaos Theory. Exceptional-Creativity is equated with the Tao element of Fire and Conserving to the Metal phase. The relationship of Metal to Fire is fearful. This fearfulness is equated to pre-cognitive anxiety in the Conservor, triggered by the experience of a turbulent dyadic boundary. Disorganization and turbulence mark instability, which precedes unpredictable bifurcation to higher levels of complexity (second- and third-order change) in the evolution of living systems. The Conservor's holistic, self-preserving, instinctive (Estés, 1992; Jung, 1956; Torre, 1995) response is to reject the EC to preserve its own linear, structured, conserving semi-stable state. The rejection one directional. The EC is open to the Conservor since its own pattern is non-linear and change-emitting. Survey results (N = 38) confirm the hypothesis. Sample confounds, the effects of individuation, and EC counseling issues of rejection and transience are discussed.
Emerg Symp
Emergence: From Mathematics to Science
Jeffrey Goldstein, Ph.D., Adelphi University, Garden City, NY 11530
The phenomenon of emergence in complex systems has sparked off a debate in the philosophy of science similar to the one ignited by the movement of Emergent Evolution in the 1920's. One of the main issues in this debate concerns the ontological/epistemological status of emergent whole. To add to this discussion, in this presentation I want to compare and contrast three mathematical ?models? of emergence, and then look at these ?models? in terms of emergence in actual physical systems as studied by various sciences of complexity. Although mathematics per se doesn?t directly address the idea of emergence, it can provide some pointers as to what philosophers may need to keep in mind when trying to understand emergence. The three mathematical ?models? I will explicate are: the nonlinear dynamical systems model of bifurcation into new attactor regimes; C.W. Kilmister?s ideas on the mathematics necessary for self-organization; and diagonalization methods such as used by Georg Cantor to show the nondenumerability of real numbers which I have adapted to show pertinence to emergence. Then I will select examples of emergence in physical systems and see how these ?models? may help in conceptualizing emergence philosophically.
Phys
Fractal Quantification of the Pericellular Membrane from Dendritic Cells
F. Grizzi 1, M.Chiriva Internati 2, O. Orbetegli 3 and N.Dioguardi 1 1Direzione Scientifica, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milano, Italy; 2Myeloma and Trasplantation Research Center, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, UAMS, Arkansas, USA; 3 Researcher of Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milano, Italy.
Dendritic cells (DC) represent a cell family derived from hematopoietic stem cell and differentiate into potent antigen-presenting cells. The term dendritic was, for the first time, used by Steiman and Cohn to describe a unique adherent cell population in murine spleen. The DC appears to move throught the lymphatic system and throught the blood stream, from the sites of primary antigen recognition to the sites of T cell activation. The distinctive cytoplasm extensions, and the poor phagocytic activity and paucity of intracellular organelles distinguished these cells from macrophages and led to their recognition as a distinct cellular population. The irregular and sometime complex shape of DCs fit their functions which are to capture antigens and select antigen-specific T cells. Irregularity and complexity can be quantified using the fractal geometry. The application of fractal geometry, unlike to the conventional euclidean geometry developed for describing regular and ideal geometrical shapes practically unknown in nature, enables to measure the fractal dimension of almost all irregular and complex biological tissue. In the present preliminary study, the irregularity of the cell surface or plasmalemma in DCs has been quantified, for the first time, in terms of the fractal dimension D with a probabilistic method. Our results show that fractal dimension is a quantitative descriptor of the actual geometrical cell shape. Furthermore this parameter allows ultrastructural and antigenic features to be correlated with biochemical and molecular entities of the plasma membrane of mature cells and of cells evolving from any given level of differentiation in normal and pathological conditions.
Special Session
Structural Equation Modeling of Nonlinear Systems
Stephen J. Guastello, Ph.D.
The Special Tutorial Presentation, (1.5 hrs.) Explains the techniques for using structural equations for investigating the presence of chaos, catastrophes, other dynamics. (1). Dynamics with integer dimensions: polynomial regression for catastrophe models. Concepts appeared in numerous sources 1982-98. Application: Personnel selection and turnover with the cusp catastrophe model. (2). Nonlinear regression approach for catastrophic probability density functions and rugged landscapes. Application: Self-organization and leadership emergence. (3). Non-integer dimensions: exponential model series, used with nonlinear regression. Concepts appeared in numerous sources 1992-98. Applications: Work performance in hierarchies; forecasting oceanic fishing harvests. (4). Attractor reconstruction using principal components to find the embedding dimension that is usually required for projection of phase portraits.
Animats and Dynamic Systems
Agnès Guillot, AnimatLab/ OASIS, LIP6, 75015 Paris, France.
The "Animat approach", a young 10 years-old discipline, is the study of simulated animals or real robots - i.e. animats - whose architectures are inspired from biology. Its aim is to understand how autonomy and adaptive behaviors can emerge in simple animals situated in more or less predictable environments. Assuming that these behaviors - which characterize every animal, including man - are the "primitives" on which the complex cognitive processes of humans are elaborated, it postulates that one might not be able to understand these processes without having first understood how the primitives have been implemented. Thus the Animat approach is embedded in a bottom-up, situated and evolutionary perspective that is complementary to traditional Artificial Intelligence. This paper first defines the field of this new discipline. Next it explains, with illustrating examples, why the theory of dynamic systems is a better support for the design and analysis of animats than the computational framework. Finally it discusses the contribution of the Animat approach to the systems theory.
Soc
Towards a working non-linear science of empowerment
Stuart Glendinning Hall, m-power, 81 Hertford Road, London, UK N1 5AG.
"These peasants know more than we do," Paulo Freire, 'Pedagogy of Hope'. Seeing connections between chaos science and empowerment is one thing. Scientifically demonstrating that people and society's behave in a non-linear manner is another - and for good reason: "The complexity of the real phenomena studied in the life sciences outstripped anything to be found in a physicist's laboratory." (Gleick) Any answer I suggest would be helped by a creative, two-way dialogue between educated (scientific) knowledge, and people's knowledge of the real world. This highly evolved knowledge is commonly expressed in metaphor, and based on a comparable methodology of observation and experimentation to mainstream science. It is through such a relationship, based on love and trust, that working non-linear science of empowerment could evolve. I've already started putting the theory into action on a small scale and seen it produce results.
Mind as a Lattice of Dynamical Networks
Dr. Christine Hardy, LRIP. Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Interactions Psychophysiques. 51 Bis, Av.P.V.Couturier. 91390 Morsang sur Orge, France
Semantic Fields theory views the mind as a lattice of semantic constellations or SeCos. SeCos are self-organizing dynamical networks (Prueitt et al, 1995; Peschl, 1997) that interweave processes ranging from high-level abstract ones to low-level neuronal ones. Dynamics, here, are tigthly interwoven with structure, insofar as a SeCo is built through a low-level connective dynamic, and its structural organization is the dynamical network-system (Hardy, 1998). SeCos behave as attractors, inducing the mind to follow learned trajectories, unless a change in parameters (e.g. a modification of the link structure) produces bifurcations toward novel organizational states. These dynamical networks present idiosyncratic organizations, involving more or less lability and chaos-ranging from spiral-point attractors to chaotic ones. However, as Freeman (1995) has remarked regarding the olfactory bulb, we should expect dynamical systems in the living to show organizational states somewhat at variance with mathematical models. SeCos go through sequences of organizational changes (bifurcations) while growth and complexification occur. The SeCo's evolution may for example involve the creation of sub-SeCos-thus instantiating a catastrophic bifurcation (appearance of a new attractor). Of particular interest are SeCos involving two competing attractors, that correspond to ambivalent psychological processes, such as ambivalent feelings or relationships.
Org
Local Rules: Some propositions for their establishment and continuation.
Tim Haslett, Department of Management, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, Caulfield East 3145, Victoria, Australia; Charles Osborn, Physics Department, Monash University
This paper is based findings from field research that identified local rules in two organizations. It develops these findings into a set of propositions that may explain the processes by which local rules survive or become extinct. The central metaphor for this argument is the fitness landscape developed by Stuart Kauffman and John Holland. This metaphor provides a useful distinction between those who set dimensions of landscapes and those who act on those landscapes through the use of local rules. It is proposed that local rules have domains of action on fitness landscapes and that there is a set of conditions for establishment and continuation based on the interactions across the domain boundaries. It is further proposed that there are conditions, characterised by co-adaptation, under which rules will survive in relatively stable forms and other conditions, characterised by competition, under which local rules change.
Psy
A Neural Network Approach to Understanding Chaos in Personality and Cognitive Development.
Robert Homer and Bogdan Sasaran, Beth Israel Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, 1st Ave. at 16th St., NY, NY, 10003
Several psychological theories purport that each developmental stage depends to some degree on the successful completion of the previous stages. The modeling of such phenomena has been accomplished with multilayered neural networks by assigning developmental stages to corresponding neural network layers. For cognitive development, this can be accomplished by considering how particular cognitive tasks are performed with different levels of complexity dependent on the current developmental stage (McClelland). For personality development, this can be accomplished by considering the neurotransmitter systems and object relations correlated to each stage of development (Homer). Such networks can thus serve as models to demonstrate the nonlinear interdependence between neural systems that give rise to cognition, behavior, and personality. This concept will be discussed here in the framework of chaos theory. References: Homer, R., (1999), ?A Neural Network Model of Personality?, To be published in The proceedings of the IJCNN. McClelland, J., and Plunkett, K., (1998), ?Cognitive Development.? In M. Arbib (Ed.) The Handbook of Brain Theory and Neural Networks, pp. 193-197. MIT Press.
Phys
Comparison Between EEGs of Schizophrenic Patients and Normal Subjects by Means of Methods from Chaos Theory
Roberto Hornero1, Pedro Espino2, Alonso Alonso1, Miguel López1 1E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, University of ValladolidPaseo del Cementerio s/nº, 47011 - Valladolid (Spain); 2Hospital Universitario de Valladolid, Avda. Ramón y Cajal, nº 3, 47005 - Valladolid (Spain)
In this study, we compared the electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 8 schizophrenic patients and 8 control subjects by means of methods from chaos theory. The patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. Five patients suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, while three were residual schizophrenics. From the EEG data, we reconstructed the chaotic dynamic attractors expressed in the phase space and calculated their correlation dimensions (CD), which are a measure of the complexity. The correlation dimension was performed using the Grassberger and Procaccia method with Theiler's box-assisted correlation to improve the computational efficiency. The CD values were higher in the control subjects' EEGs with a mean value of 4.68 ( 0.12, compared with the CD of the schizophrenic patients' EEGs with a mean of 4.31 ( 0.18. Applying the ANOVA test, we verified that there was a significant difference (F1,14=23.34, p < 0.001) between the EEGs of these groups. These results show a diminished complexity in the EEGs of the schizophrenic patients, and confirm findings associated with the fact that schizophrenic patients are characterized by less complex neurobehavioral measures than normal subjects.
Psy
On a possible metaphorical meaning of quantum theory for a psychological-systemic view of man
Guido Hucke, Bremen, Germany
Provided that (human) beings are both unbonded, separated individuals as well as bonded, related social beings a metaphorical quantum field model is proposed. The "uniquenesses" of men might be seen in analogy to the atomic nuclei. The bonding electrons in this model are assumed to be in orbitals which means spaces with an increased likelihood of occurence. These orbitals ensure correspondingly the contact to the world in all kinds of dynamical states (e.g. human relationships, occupation/job, feeling of mission, interests, problems and so on). Because of the Heisenberg indetermination principle the orbitals are supposed to have "unsharp borders". Both the atomic nuclei (which are very hard to define) and the electrons (due to their particle-wave-dualism) can be understood as part of a complementary structure which Bohr pointed out as a characteristic of many phenomena inside and beyond physics. A comparison between metaphorical orbitals and atractors/potential valleys concerning a psychological-systemic view of man is done and an outlook on "quantum chaos" is presented. In the Pauli-Jung-dialogue possible consequences were discussed (1. classical physics as determinism, 2. quantum physics as indeterminism, 3. "deeper" correspondences of meanings). At last a plea for philosophy of nature is given.
Jenicus
A SYMPOSIUM SESSION Complexity in Human Personality: Issues of Individuality and UniquenessConvener: Simon Jencius (University of Vienna) Presenters: Simon Jencius (University of Vienna), Kevin Kingsland (City University, UK), Yuichi Shoda (University of Washington), Greg Siegle (University of California, San Diego), Scott Tiernan (University of Washington)
OVERVIEW OF SESSION: Human thought and behavior are truly complex. Therefore, the individual and human personality may best be conceptualized as complex systems (Jencius, 1998). The field of personality psychology has been described as being divided in theory, assessment, and research, creating two separate disciplines (Cervone, 1991), the trait/dispositional approach and the social-cognitive approach (Cervone, 1991). A further distinction has been made between the two disciplines in that the former may be conceptualized as a simple system and the latter as a complex system (Jencius, 1998). Recent theorists are straying away from simple systems approaches and applying bottom-up explanation strategies (Cervone, 1997; Cervone & Shoda, 1999), principles from non-linear dynamics, complex adaptive systems, and self-organization (Kingsland, 1998), dynamic systems in development (Van Geert, 1998), parallel distributed processing and connectionist models (Read & Miller, 1998; Shoda & Mischel, 1998), neural network models on cognition and emotion (Siegle, 1998), and cognitive-affective systems (Mischel & Shoda, 1995) in the scientific study of personality psychology. Philosophers of science (Harré, 1998; Nozick, 1981; Shaffer, 1996) also have their opinions on simplicity (e.g., the use of traits) in scientific explanation. The use of traits in the scientific explanation has been accused of being systematically biased (Shaffer, 1996), circular in nature (Nozick, 1981), and is often confused as explanantions (Harré, 1998). Further advances are utilized to understand patterns of complexity and uniqueness in thought and action of the individual.
Psy
Complexity in personality functioning
Simon T. Jencius, University of Vienna
The task of contemporary personality psychology must be to generate a theory of the individual that (a) captures the idiosyncracy of the individual, (b) addresses development, (c) addresses processes of change, (d) has applications, and (e) has a firm scientific basis. Therefore, applying features from non-linear dynamics and complex adaptive systems to the study of human personality might benefit such a task. A combination of the insights from trait/dispositional (McCrae & Costa,1996) and social-cognitive approaches (Bandura, 1986; Cervone & Shoda,1999; Mischel, 1973; Mischel & Shoda, 1995) were used to employ an idiographic assessment strategy. Cognition, temperament, and conceptualizations of the self are proposed as being unstable features of human development (Kagan, 1989). Therefore, cognitive structures (e.g., self-schemas, scripts) were assessed idiographically with respect to multiple situations and challenges (cf. Abelson, 1981; Cervone, 1997; Markus, 1977; Schank & Abelson, 1977). Self-efficacy perceptions (Bandura, 1997) and behaviors were assessed contextually. Findings relate cognitive structures to self-efficacy appraisals that regulate the behaviors necessary for adaptation and adjustment to the new domain specific contexts. Results suggest self-organizing principles are at work in the construction of the self.
Psy
The anatomy of individuality: Wholeness and complexity in personality
Kevin Kingsland, City University, UK
The primitive notion of distinction (Spencer-Brown, 1969) is sufficient to give rise to seven logical complementary perspectives described in this paper. Recursive distinctions give rise to complex fractals, in particular, human personality. These perspectives are attractor states that divide the observed from the observer; they give rise to the laws of physics (Frieden, 1998) the deep structure of language and the controversies of social science. Standard approaches to personality adopt mutually exclusive perspectives that can not gain wide acceptance and fail to address the need to explain their own arising. This paper outlines the methodologies developed to overcome these problems, an analytical model for categorising others' behaviour and understanding self-experiences. Constructive cognition is distinguished from social construction and explanations of psychological phenomena through use of psychological constructions are subverted. Drawing widely on principles from chaos and complexity theory, the form of an explanatory model of personality is presented, which holds state, learning, creativity and personality as related aspects. Application illustrations from counselling, communication and business psychology are given. Lastly, drawing on practice, the developmental challenge for researchers and others to learn to access their own potential observational views and to understand multiple perspectives is argued.
Psy
Topology of Cognitive Activities: The Synergetic Approach*
Helena Knyazeva, Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Volkhonka St.14, 119 842 Moscow, Russia
The nonlinear models of self-organization and blow-up regimes in open dissipative systems elaborated by the Moscow synergetic school at the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics turn to be very fruitful in studies of the human cognitive and creative activities[?]. A number of new fascinating notions are under development here, namely spectra of evolutionary structure-attractors of open nonlinear media (evolutionary trees), the role of topologically right influences on a medium, "architecture", topology of complex evolutionary structures constructed from a few rather simple structures evolving with different speeds. Synergetics leads to a profound re-comprehension of the nature and the mutual connection of spatial and temporal relations in the world, it elaborates new topological notions. One can draw some parallels between the synergetic models applied to cognitive activities and the main ideas of the theory of field (topological psychology) created by Kurt Lewin. The synergetic models allows us to develop notions of landscapes of cognitive activities, topology of initiating influences and self-influences of a creative personality, ecology of creative mind. Reference: Knyazeva, H. (1998) The Synergetic View of Human Creativity. In: Evolution and Cognition. Vol.4, N.2. P.145-155.
Complex Government Regulatory Time-Ecologies
Gus Koehler, California Research Bureau and the University of Southern California
"Politics consists first and foremost in structuring time." (Santiso) The goal of the political and legal system is persistence of a principle or principals that encourage or discourage a particular pattern of social behavior or protects or distributes a resource in a valued way. Complex regulatory patterns result from the heterocrony between the timing and content of policy issues (policy timing), how regulations are structured and enforced (regulatory timing), and the timing and structure of the activity that they seek to regulate. Together, these timings form a regulatory time-ecology of multiple time scales and complex interactions with competing foresight horizons and unexpected consequences. I propose to define "regulatory time-ecology heterocrony" and speculate on: 1) Historical and intellectual foundations of when, how, and what should be regulated. 2) The policy time orientation of political actors compared to the regulated sector. 3) How the flow of information between these two leads to unexpected foresight horizon conflicts, and emergent structures. This analysis helps to answer the following questions: What is the appropriate regulatory form and process to forecast and catalyze statutorily desired change in a complex regulatory time-ecology? Can these forms be adaptive without sacrificing constitutional limitations and statutory intent? Can a regulatory time-ecology be favorably renewed or coevolved?
On robust spatio-temporal chaos in biological and artificial neural networks
Robert Kozma and Walter J.Freeman, University of California at Berkeley
At the face, robustness and chaos might seem to be mutually exclusive fields. At least this appears to be the common wisdom. One must just remember the extreme sensitivity of deterministic chaos to miniscule changes of the initial conditions and/or other parametric effects in a digital computer embodiment. Also, the instability of chaotic orbits, the fragmentation of attractor basins to the limit of the last bit in digital representation appear to prevent any robustness and error tolerance in chaotic systems. The main point of the talk is to show that tools of chaotic dynamics can create stable and robust behavior in very complex, high-dimensional systems with a lot of degrees of freedom. Examples of such complex systems are biological and artificial neural systems. The neural system lives in a high-dimesional space but its actual response to external stimuli initiates an internal coarse-graining and self-organization that results in a low-dimensional structured behavior. During normal operation of the neural network, switching between high- and low-dimensional states is an integral part of the recall of memory patterns. In abnormal situations, the neural dynamics may switch to a low dimensional oscillation and remain there for a longer period of time. Examples of chaos computing and the emergence of stable structures in computational and biological neural networks are given in the talk.
Psy
Approaching annihilation: Applications of dynamical systems theory for understanding delirium at the end of life.
Sameet M. Kumar, MS, University of Miami, Department of Psychology, Miami, FL 33124
Dynamical systems theory has been used by psychologists as a useful framework for towards understanding the emergence, maintenance, and dissipation of systems. These applications can be used towards gaining an understanding of psychosocial processes that occur in the process of dying. Specifically, dynamical systems theory can contribute towards the understanding of clinical delirium at the end of life. Delirium affects approximately 50-85% of people with terminal illnesses. Clinical features of delirium in the terminally ill reveal personality to be an emergent phenomenon dependent upon particular variables necessary for coherence and adaptation. As cognitive functions lose coherence, affective structures continue to exert a powerful influence on the psychosocial functioning of the terminally ill. Additionally, the course of delirium is marked by the spontaneous re-emergence of the personality for varying lengths of time. These processes help to validate as well as contribute towards the theoretical understanding of personality etiology and maintenance. This paper will integrate existing research and clinical literature on delirium at the end of life, as well as present clinical case studies, utilizing the paradigm of dynamical systems theory. Since processes that may or may not occur after death remain unknown to science, different cultural conceptualizations towards the meaning of death and the process of dying will also be presented within a dynamical systems framework. A broad understanding of different cultural theories and attitudes towards the process of dying can help to illuminate and contextualize assumptions and expectancies about the phenomenology of living.
Psy
Special Session: The Uroboros
Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D., private practice, Santa Monica; Research Scientist, Creativity Research Institute of Southern California and Robin Robertson, mathematician and Jungian-oriented clinical psychologist; board member and General Editor of the Jungian journal Psychological Perspectives.
Part I (Two Parts one hour total): This theoretical presentation examines the uroboros, or snake biting its tail, symbol of fused opposites in terms of formal properties of recursion. Recursion relates directly to self-reference, through which logic loops back upon itself. Gödel used self-reference to prove that any formal system at least complex enough to include arithmetic, contains true statements whose truth cannot be demonstrated within the system. With his concept of the Universal Turing Machine, Allan Turing moved the field of Gödel's incompleteness proof from pure logic to physical reality, leading to the development of the computer. Less well-known than either Gödel or Turing, G. Spencer-Brown developed an elegant symbology for Boolean Algebra that introduced the notion of re-entry. In his "Laws of Form," Spencer-Brown suggested that paradox is resolved when time is introduced. This occurs via recursion, in the form of an intermediate stage of re-entry, between his original polarity of mark and not-mark. Finally, Varela extended Spencer-Brown's work into biological processes with his concept of autopoiesis: "the invariance of a unity and the indefinite recursion underlying the invariance." This sets the stage for the work of Jung, and a psychological interpretation of recursion and paradox, as well as its extension through chaos theory.
Marks-Tarlow/Robertson
Psy
The Uroboros Part II
Terry Marks-Tarlow, Ph.D., private practice, Santa Monica; Research Scientist, Creativity Research Institute of Southern California, and Robin Robertson, mathematician and Jungian-oriented clinical psychologist; board member and General Editor of the Jungian journal Psychological Perspectives.
This clinical and theoretical presentation examines the uroboros, or snake biting its own tail, from the perspective of fractal geometry and chaos theory. Throughout the world, the uroboros is a symbol for the primitive unconscious. As a state of being, the uroboros represents fused opposites: self/other, inside/outside, good/bad, feminine/masculine which we modeled well by fractal dynamics. As a cycle of activity, the uroboros symbolizes seeds of creative growth and self-renewal. By looping around and feeding upon itself, the uroboros relates to recursion, whereby the end products of experience are fed back into the beginning. As an ongoing cycle, recursion eventuates in conscious processes of self-reflection and self-control over impulses. Although the separation of opposites, or making of distinctions, is necessary for survival, the symbol of the uroboros suggests that our paradoxical core remains buried deep within the psyche for fife.
Psy
Co-morbidity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Affect Regulation and Chaos Theory
Susan Mirow, PhD, MD
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) share similarities in neuroimaging; involve serotonin dysregulation and respond to cognitive-behavioral therapy. Testing for OCD co-morbid with Complex PTSD, forty adult females with histories of childhood sexual abuse (5-15 years duration) were assessed clinically for Complex PTSD/OCD. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale measured OCD severity. All patients with Complex PTSD met criteria for OCD! Obsessions and compulsions were found in both numbing/re-living phases of PTSD. Intrusive thoughts/unwanted ideas became obsessions interfering with functioning. Obsessions involved food, bathroom habits and safety, with relief of anxiety after performance of rituals. Rituals occurred around: eating (overeating, food avoidance based upon shape, texture, smell), washing (rigid order/length of time), touching/checking (behind doors, inside closets), counting (objects, colors, numbers). Some women repeated word rhymes or had counting rituals when numbers with "magical" significance triggered dissociative episodes/flashbacks. Obsessions of Complex PTSD have a regressed, child-like quality. Patients with dissociative amnesia compulsively acted out complicated rituals. Case studies are reviewed. A videotaped example of obsessions/compulsions with dissociative amnesia is shown. Clinical significance is discussed in relation to the biphasic nature of PTSD. This author concludes: ongoing childhood abuse is associated with failure of appropriate level of representation in mental processing in areas interfacing with trauma. Loss of hierarchically organized mental processing results in stimulus-bound behaviors: compulsions/rituals, with their "lower" cortical representations (assessed by neuroimaging). Loss of organizational complexity in mental processing may be measured using tools of chaos theory. Childhood sexual abuse may lead to OCD, as compulsive/ritual behaviors serve as mental processes in biology of affect regulation. These ideas are discussed along with their implications for new treatments for Complex PTSD.
Psy
Dynamical Nature of Moods and Emotions
Susan Mirow, Ph.D., M.D.,Associate Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry,University of Utah School of Medicine,Consultant: Division of Youth Corrections, State of Utah.
The dynamical nature of moods and emotions is a new concept providing insight into disorders characterized by pathological states (psychiatric illnesses). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), for example, unfolds over time as a biobehavioral adaptation to stress where the organized complexity of a person's response to environmental change is lost. As the body adapts to trauma, its short biorhythms (Ultradian: less than 24 hours) show stress-induced changes: sensitization and kindling leading to alterations in coupling (entrainment) of rhythms to each other. In turn, this alters the timing of synchronized biological processes. Research on circadian rhythms and industrial production has led to understanding of a continuity between neat, smooth cycles and discrete oscillation. The catastrophe principle described in that system, along with its bifurcation variable may be analogous to biphasic nature of PTSD with it bifurcated (biphasic) states of numbing and reliving. Biological systems (in health and disease) show chaotic time series for certain critical behaviors. Coupling of biorhythms between mother and fetus/offspring may be interpreted as ultradian rhythms acting as biological transducers. Entrainment of ultradian rhythms in studies on aggression and violence may be evidence that ultradian rhythms are biological transducers in the transmission of trauma from one generation to the next. This author's clinical research found a link between longstanding PTSD (from early childhood trauma) with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The stimulus-bound behavior of OCD may be understood as resulting from the loss of (organizational) complexity in hierarchially organized mental processing. Thus the dynamical nature of moods and emotions may aid in prediction, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.
Soc
Dynamic model of change of political mentality of the Russians (1994-1997)
Olga Mitina, Victor Petrenko
The model offered in the given work, is connected to construction of phase trajectories in a phase space. Using of the psychosemantic methods allows to build "step by step" pictures of consciousness considered by us as phase projections uniform phase space along an axis of time. With the help of methods of multiple linear regress the system linear different equations describing experimental data and reflecting dependence of objects on a phase plane from each other at the consecutive moments of time is under construction. The phase trajectory of researched dynamic process is regarded as the decision of the appropriate independent system of the linear differential equations. As an example for construction of the model we use the data describing dynamics of the attitudes of the certain stratum of the Russians to economic and political realities of the country during the calmest period of existence of new Russia from times of reorganization and beginning of reforms (from 1994 till 1997). The interpretation of the received phase curve as process of dynamics of social- political representations in social consciousness of the certain stratum of the Russian citizens is offered. For example the phase plane received as a result of construction of model is determine by two dimensions, which are conditionally possible are to named Equity and Freedom. The unstable focus is the decision of differential system. Thus the stationary but unstable initial point in the generalized consciousness of the respondents corresponds to representations about attitudes of the society to readiness for democratic and liberal reforms even that the real results of improvement of life can be postponed and will be shown only in the remote prospect.
Com
Conversation process as chaotic system
G. Morgavi ,Istituto per Circuiti Elettronici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Genova ,Italy, 16149 and V. Florini, Centro di Promozione Culturale per la Prima infanzia, "Il Piccolo Principe", Comune di Genova, Genova, Italy, 16129
Our goal was to extract information on communicative process evolution avoiding simplification and classification. We analysed 50 motivational research interview made from students during their university course. The nature intrinsically interactive of the dialogue concretises, shapes and evolves within time dimension. A reciprocal adaptation, where each partner learns, step by step, to lead in the interlocutor's reference frame, without quitting its own, turns into a common system exceeding those of both fellow. Our approach founds on analogies between conversation processes and chaotic systems: even in conversation, time evolution shapes, defines and characterises the process. During the interaction, the turn alternation is fundamental, specially when the mutual definition of the relationship involves the acknowledgement of different roles. Through word counting we estimated the " conversation process phase-portrait". This procedure allowed information extraction on the conversation evolution: plots with anomalous paths indicate situations where the communication has been troubled from external references. On the whole Corpus (consisting of 326599 words), we choose lemmas with frequency greater then 100 and we draw their frequency plot: most protocols showed similar decreasing shapes, but in some interviews, the profile blew up anomalous behaviours underlining some basic characteristic of each conversation process.
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DynamicaL System Aspects of Stress and Coping
Richard W.J. Neufeld, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2
A nonlinear dynamical-systems formulation expressing designated properties of stress and its negotiation is presented. Selection of variables, and their relational structure, implement informal accounts and empirical findings from experimental- personality research on the topic. Variables include, (a), level of environmental stressors amenable to the chosen form of coping ("decisional control"), (b), efficiency of cognitive functions bearing on decisional control, (c), extant level of stress activation, and, (d), degree of coping engagement. Two additional variables depict dynamic regulatory factors that pertain to stress activation and coping-engagement responsiveness to change in exogenous-stressor level. Behaviourially-principled dynamic interactions of the system are described. Variation on equational structures compromising apparent veridicality of system behaviour are examined. Also considered are pertinent empirical diagnostics, as well as insight into the mechanisms of inter-variable interactions afforded by other formal stress-coping approaches. Potential limitations and challenges to empirical testing of the presented system are discussed.
Psy
Some qualitative and quantitative methods to measure the complex evolution of therapeutic interactions.
Franco Orsucci, Department of Psychology, Rome International University, Rome, Italy, I-00187.
The implementation of chaos and complexity approaches in the clinical field has been generating a new trend of clinical practice, mainly based on the co-evolutionary interaction. But, mathematical models and quantitative measures are still to be really implemented. Trying to contribute to this development I examine the pre-requisites for measurements in the clinical field. They are mainly related to linguistic evaluations of materials (what and how we measure). Then I apply some qualitative and quantitative methods to clinical materials (transcription of therapeutic sessions). The main features of the software used are discussed. Results are examined, comparing qualitative and quantitative outcomes.
Workshop
The Unified Approach in Psychotherapy
Franco Orsucci, MD, DPsych
with invited guests:
Fred Abraham, PhD
Liane Gabora, PhD
Susan Mirow, MD
Bob Porter, PhD
This full-day workshop is designed for those who are willing to apply Chaos & Complexity Theory in clinical situations. It will show how this C & C approach can reshape the clinical field by integrating and transforming its traditional domains. Participants will be stimulated to formulate this new approach by simulations, demonstrations, debate, new methods for data-analysis and a software distribution. A special section of the workshop will be devoted to clinical case-studies.
Topical Outline:
(1) The multiplex subject:
informational, symbolic, iconic, intentional, biological. How multiple (inner
and outer) subjects shape the field of therapy? Models, metaphors and
measurement (time series, morphology, content).
(2) Inner and outer
interactions: multiple environments. Patient-systems and therapists-systems in
multiple couplings. How the multiple layers of the mind-body entity
intermingle. How they interact in the therapeutic field. The birth and
transformation of this multipersonal landscape.
(3) Reaching the symbiosis,
reaching the punctuation: co-evolution and innovation. The processes of merging
and individuation as the emergence of new individualities. Dialectics between
continuous and exponential change.
4) Memetics, Creativity, and
Psychopathology. The origin and evolution of cultures. How complex cultural
dynamics emerge through the interaction of imitation and innovation (or
creativity). The relationship between creativity and psychopathology.
Psychopathology as a 'sacrifice' in exchange for the kind of mental mechanisms
that enable creative thought.
(5) Self-organization, Self
Organized Criticality and punctuated equilibria: reaching the edge. Dissipative
structures and their continuous need of energy and information. Amplification
and equilibrium in the psychotherapeutic field.
(6) 1/f phenomena and the
constructive role of noise in psychotherapy. What is noise; what is harmony in
the therapeutic field ? How can we produce, follow, and use them? Stochastic
resonance in psychotherapy.
(7) Clinical case studies as
intermingling landscapes: families, groups, behaviors, personal and collective
unconscious, cognitions, biology and ecology. Towards a deep ecology as a
general approach to systems' health. Clinical discussion of presentations from
conveners and attendees.
(8) Ethics in Chaos.
Morphogenesis and beauty; issues on responsibility, freedom and happiness. Is
there any conflict between ethics and aesthetics in psychotherapy ? Which is
the responsibility of the therapist towards the client's freedom?
(9) Deep ecology in
psychotherapy: the unified approach beyond metaphysics and tradition.
Franco Orsucci, M.D., D.Psych. is Professor of Psychology, Rome International University. President, Italian Society for Chaos and Complexity. Director, Institute for Complexity Studies of Rome. Member, International Psychoanalytical Association. Franco has 20 years of clinical practice and has published many articles and books: his most recent book is Complex Matters of the Mind (1998, World Scientific).
Soc
Interactive Chaotic Dynamics During Human Courtship
Timothy Perper, PhD
Courtship may be defined as a sequence of signals exchanged by two people that begins at relative strangerhood and escalates to intimacy. In field settings, courtship displays regular temporal patterns of behavior (Perper, 1985, 1994). This sequence can be modeled dynamically by assuming iterative exchange of discrete signals varying in emotional intensity. If her j-th signal to him is Xj, then his response is Yj = F(Xj), and her subsequent response to him is X(j+1) = G(Yj). F and G are "transfer" functions displaying each partner's response. The simplest example involves two linearly rising functions, where each person arouses the other. In a more interesting example, his response rises linearly, but her transfer function is an upside-down "U," meaning that she responds positively to low intensity inputs but negatively to higher intensity inputs. This second case can lead to chaotic dynamics. Simulations of these transfer functions produce trajectories that may be unbounded upward, unbounded downward, stable, or chaotic. Conditions exist where emotional intensity cycles chaotically or varies in quasi-periodic Emoti onal lability. Still others produce stability. Rinaldi and Gragnani (1998) have described complementary results. The model has far wider implications than courtship and leads to general theories of chaos and communication.
Psy
Family systems theories
David Pincus M.S, Marquette University, Milwaukee Wisconsin
Family systems theories have developed primarily through clinical practice, separate from empirical research of relationships and small group processes. This separation has led to the development of a variety of family systems theories which are largely untestable with respect to family processes (as opposed to the more simple question of therapeutic outcome) and to empirical research which often lacks theoretical grounding. The current presentation will describe a model of human relationships, the 5-R's model, which may provide a more unified view of small group process and which is empirically testable. This model describes four oblique underlying structures: rules, roles, relationships, and realities which emerge through principles of self-organization and which are co-determining of familial response patterns. A pilot test of the model was conducted using orbital-decomposition to analyze a brief family problem-solving discussion. This analysis included the quantitative calculation of the communication chaosticity within the familial response patterns using Shannon's and topological entropy, as well as the statistical identification of qualitative patterns of recurrence within the family dynamics. These results will be discussed in relation to clinical assessment, intervention, and to the 5-R's model of human relationships.
Nonlinear dynamics as theoretical grounding for psychotherapeutic listening: soliton activity focus.
Joanna Poppink, M.F.C.C.,psychotherapist in private practice, 10573 West Pico Blvd. PMB 20, Los Angeles, CA 90064
This presentation explores how following the metaphors of non linear research with soliton emphasis can provide a useful strategy in psychotherapy treating people with chronic self defeating attitudes and behaviors (SDAB). Sustained SDABs cross a multitude of diagnostic categories. When these qualities are chronic they become a source of pain, guilt, shame and despair for conscientious people in treatment. Chronic SDABs also challenge the therapist who can become disheartened, frustrated and perhaps less patient and competent in providing treatment. This paper explores the clinical practice of following the metaphor of the change resistant soliton to provide more broad and detailed therapeutic articulations in treating SDABs than are currently available. Discussion takes the position that both the patient and therapist are complex adaptive systems individually and form a complex adaptive system in their relationship. Exploration includes clinical case examples and theory and research from psychology and dynamic systems thinkers to suggest that the concept and physical ramifications of soliton may serve as a useful and theoretical construct in treating SDABs
Porter
Just Beyond the Basics: Usintg Nonlinear Science in
Conceptualization and Research
Robert J. Porter, Ph.D. Private Practice and Professor Emeritus, University of New Orleans and LSU Medical School
This limited enrollment (n=20) full-day workshop is designed to explore conceptualizations of research problems in nonlinear science terms. The objective is to introduce the participants to both classical and more recent approaches that may not be part of their existing ways of approaching research. A basic understanding of nonlinear concepts is expected, but a tutorial review will be provided at the beginning of the workshop. A handbook will be provided to all participants.
This workshop will touch upon methods but will emphasize conceptual and philosophical issues that underlie the use of nonlinear concepts in several areas of psychology and life sciences. These conceptual underpinnings are, in some cases, fundamentally different from those upon which more classical research approaches are built.
Time will be allotted for participants to informally explore questions, and possible answers, pertaining to those areas of their expertise. Participants who wish to share some of their work and thought in a more formal fashion are invited to bring 20 copies of a representative paper (punched for a three- ring binder) to add to a collection that other participants may take with them.
Portugali
SIRN (Synergetic Inter-Representation Networks)
Juval Portugali, Department of Geography and the Human Environment, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
The notion of SIRN (Synergetic Inter-Representation Networks) combines two terms. One is IRN (Inter-Representation Networks) as proposed by (Portugali 1996). The other is Synergetics which is Haken's theory of self-organization that in the last two decades he applied also to the study of brain functioning and cognition (Haken, 1996). SIRN is thus a model and a theory that cast IRN into the formalism of synergetics (Haken and Portugali 1996). This theory can be described by means of the following six propositions. (1). Humans have an innate capability for representation that comes in two forms: external and internal. (2) The boundaries of the cognitive system should be perceived as distinct from the boundaries of the brain (the skull) and the body (skin). (3) Many cognitive processes, cognitive mapping included, evolve as an interaction between internal and external representations. (4) Cognition is an information processing, transmission and communication process. (5) The dynamic relation between the internal and external elements of the cognitive system is analogous with the relation between genotypes and phenotypes. (6) The cognitive system is a self-organizing system the dynamics of which is captured by Haken's synergetics approach to self-organization. In my presentation I'll elaborate on the above propositions and illustrate them by means of empirical case studies and simulation games. Haken, H. (1996) Synergetics and Brain Functioning, Heidelberg, Springer.; Haken, H. and J. Portugali (1996). Synergetics, Inter-representation networks and cognitive maps. The construction of cognitive maps. Ed. J. Portugali. Dordrecht, Kluwer academic publishers: 45-67.; Portugali, J. (1996). Inter-representation networks and cognitive maps. The construction of cognitive maps. Ed. J. Portugali. Dordrecht, Kluwer academic publishers: 11-43.
Rangarajan
A new method for computing Lyapunov exponents
Govindan Rangarajan, Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, INDIA
We present a new method for the computation of Lyapunov exponents utilizing representations of orthogonal matrices applied to decompositions of the tangent map. This method uses a minimal set of variables, does not require renormalization or reorthogonalization, can be used to efficiently compute partial Lyapunov spectra, and does not break down when the Lyapunov spectrum is degenerate. Further, it preserves the global invariances of the Lyapunov spectrum.
Richards
Ruth Richards, M.D., Ph.D., Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco,
University of California, San Francisco, Harvard Medical School
Can chaos theory help explain aesthetic preference? A recent aesthetic theory (Richards, 1999) unites aspects of Kant's (1790/1964) theory of the sublime with characteristics of the fractal forms of nature; the utility of this perspective is illustrated here with very preliminary data. In the process, two basic and two applied issues are touched upon: (a) Why people respond so immediately and strongly to beauty (indeed, can one say anything beyond Kant's (1790/1964) judgment of taste, in which beauty is appreciated solely for its own sake?) and (b) Why so many forms of nature seem to have a strong universal appeal. In consequence, one may also address: (c) Whether aesthetic appreciation might be employed deliberately to enhance our level of conscious awareness -- a situation valued by meditative, mystical, and artistic traditions, with many healthy consequences -- and (d) Whether it might also provide a natural enhancement of our awareness of our shared environment, along with our interdependence, and need for holistic and collaborative thinking, in an endangered age. * Note--This is a very preliminary form of the paper. Additional data, as well as discussion, will be available in the final version.
Rogers
EEG Signal Processing Using Instantaneous Phase
Linda J. Rogers, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Division of Neurobiology, LSA 129, CA 947020-3200; Walter J. Freeman, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Division of Neurobiology, LSA 129, CA 947020-3200
The concept of instantaneous phase has received attention in some system modeling contexts (non-linear oscillators), and signal processing (EEG and MEG). It has been applied to measure coupling between non-linear oscillators, independently of the chaotically varying amplitude information. Since the amplitude and phase information are separated, some have used the amplitude part as a kind of signal envelope in other applications. Instantaneous phase is the phase of the analytic signal, as measured using the Hilbert Transform. Phase also provides a natural indicator of changes in phase. For example, if a system undergoes an abrupt transition, the instantaneous phase will also change quickly. Such rapid changes are one of the hallmarks of EEG data. Gamma band activity has been linked to higher cognitive function, and coupling of neural masses, but it's timing is highly labile. We have been exploring the abrupt instantaneous phase changes as a possible means of identifying such system changes. Early results indicate that a large percentage of the channels recorded from a given cortical area (in the cat) exhibit near simultaneous phase changes, and that these events have a consistent relation to the ongoing gamma activity of the cortical area in question, and other areas as well. The next level of analysis concerns the interaction between the cortical areas just prior to, and following the phase change events.
Sabelli
Bios and Chaos.
Hector Sabelli, M.D., Ph.D. Chicago Center for Creative Development 2400 Lake View Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614 e-mail hsabelli@rpslmc.edu Louis Kauffman, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Center for Creative Development and David Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. The Heart Institute for Children, Hope Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill and University of Illinois at the Medical Center
Bios is a pattern that meets the definition of chaos, and displays additional features that differentiate it from low dimensional chaos: temporal punctuation (sequence of episodic patterns separated by interruptions), novelty (operationally defined as being less recurrent than random), and expanding phase space volume. A low Hurst exponent, indicating anti-persistence, differentiates them from Brownian random walks. Many biotic series show cross over in detrended fluctuation analysis, as observed with heart rate variation but not with random walks or 1/f noise. Biotic patterns have been identified in the time series of heartbeat intervals [Sabelli et al. J. Mind and Behavior, 1997]. Biotic patterns are also found in time series of economic indexes. They can be generated by iterative equations in which change results from bipolar (positive and negative) and continuous feedback, such as the process equation At+1 = At + g * sinAt [Kauffman and Sabelli, Cybernetics and Systems 1998; Sabelli and Kauffman, Cybernetics and Systems, in press]. Other models of harmonic feedback are presented in a companion article at this meeting. This presentation will focus on the criteria for distinguishing bios from chaos, which require specific statistical, dynamic and recurrence analyses. Whereas determined unpredictability defines chaos, determined novelty defines bios.
Sabelli
New Biotic Equations
Hector Sabelli, M.D., Ph.D. Chicago Center for Creative Development, 2400 Lake View Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614; e-mail hsabelli@rpslmc.edu
This article presents equations that generate a diversity of chaotic and biotic patterns. The delay process equation At+1 = At + gt * sinAt-1 initially generates a trifurcation, and then biotic series that resemble heartbeat series better than the process equation. Trifurcation is noteworthy in view of a corollary of Sarkovskii's theorem, period three implies chaos [Yorke and Li]. Trifurcation followed by a beautiful braid obtains with equations such as At+1 = At - At-1 + gt * sinAt that explore processes (such as sensation and information) in which the significant factor is change in action At+1 - At rather than the action At itself. The walking equation At+1 = At + [gt* sinAt ] + [jt + cos {At + (gt* sinAt)}], that models the alternation of opposites, generates a complex bifurcation diagram with multiple unifurcations and walls between chaotic periods. The system of equations At+1 = At + Bt* sinAt and Bt+1 = Bt + At* sinBt generates a beautiful chaotic attractor. These models show how diverse and bipolar (positive and negative) feedback generates novelty, diversity, and complexity. The dialectic of complementary opposites may thus account for creative evolution without resorting to random accident or supernatural intervention.
Sabelli
Cardiac Mandalas and Psychobiological Archetypes
Hector Sabelli, Chicago Center for Creative Development, 2400 Lake View Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614, e-mail hsabelli@rpslmc.edu
Fundamental physical patterns appear to be built-in brain structure as psychological archetypes [Robertson, Jungian Archetypes, 1995]. Such cosmic forms include ring patterns (Mandalas) and the small integer numbers (Pythagoras), particularly oneness and twoness [Sabelli, Systems Research and Behavioral Sciences, 1998] This article introduces complement plots, a technique to measure coexisting opposites in a single time series by calculating the sine and cosine of each term, plotting them in XY, and connecting each successive point to represent transitions. Sine and cosine are complementary opposites, meaning that they are orthogonal to each other, and vary in opposite directions. A symmetric pattern of concentric rings is found in complement plots of heartbeat interval series; the pattern is distorted or absent in severe cardiac illness, and also in some psychotics. Mandala patterns can be generated by integer random walks and integer biotic series, but not by other periodic, chaotic, or random series. The generation of the Mandala pattern depends on the integer character of the series, and the diversity of the differences between consecutive members which encompasses the entire circle of opposites. These results support the notion of small integers as cosmic forms embodied in biological processes.
Sakai
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Mast-Fruiting
K.Sakai, Department of Eco-Regional Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fucho-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
It is recognized that the deterministic chaos is a common phenomena in real world systems. Discrete logistic model by May (1974) is the first example to produce chaos as an ecological dynamics. However, the single degree of freedom models derived from real ecological data had been failed to describe chaotic behavior. Response surface methodology (RSM) was presented by Turchin as a way to distinguish ecological chaos. RSM requested two degree of freedom model to deal with delayed density dependence in the ecosystem. Application of RSM to masting data was conducted and the model obtained showed typical characteristics of chaos such as sensitive dependence on starting condition and a recurrent behavior of the strange attractor. OGY method was also applied on the model to control chaos and the result was qualitatively correspondence with conventional theory and concept for fruiting management. It is possible to recognize that the fruiting management is one sort of chaos control for an ecosystem.
Schuldberg
Dynamics and correlates of microscopic changes in affect
David Schuldberg, Department of Psychology, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT. 59812-1041
An important question concerns how microscopic assessments of behavioral dynamics are related to traditional macroscopic, static measures. Emotion is generally measured with paper and pencil instruments; affect dynamics have been studied over weeks or months, usually sampling daily, or at 30- and 15-minute intervals. The present study uses a computerized procedure, Vallacher's (1994) "mouse paradigm", to assess affect momentarily over only three minutes. Subjects monitored and reported emotional states by moving a cursor along a dimension of "Sadder" to "Happier". They also completed scales 2 (Depression) and 9 (Mania) of the MMPI-2, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and the Wisconsin scales of Physical Anhedonia and Hypomanic traits. The paper reports relationships between these pencil and paper affect measures and dynamic indices computed from approximately 1100 measurements from the second two minutes of dynamic assessment. The dynamic data yield summary measures of average affect and variability, as well as simple indices of dynamics described by Vallacher and colleagues (e.g., velocity and acceleration). Parameters are also computed using the Chaos Data Analyzer (APS). Relationships between psychometric and dynamic descriptions and quantitative indices are presented. Finally, results are related to a proposed nonlinearly-coupled dual pendulum model of affect self-regulation.
Shirouzu
Nonlinear Analysis of Task and Resting Human EEG
Shigenori Shirouzu, Yasutami Tsuda, Hisanobu Sugano, MOA Health Science Foundation, 162-1 Ohkuma, Kasuya-machi, Fukuoka 811-2302, Japan and Masayoshi Inoue, Faculty of Science, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
Since quasi stationary epochs in EEG are short lasting and 1/f like linear stochastic systems can fool previously used analysis tools, previous nonlinear analysis of EEG signals leaded to controversial conclusions about the dynamical nature underlying it. On the contrary, there is an agreement that nonlinear analysis of EEG signals provides a useful index for comparing among experimental conditions regardless of what their true dynamics are. Our purposes for nonlinear analysis of EEG signals are 1) to obtain an index of mental stress or relaxation, and 2) to elucidate the dynamical nature underlying the EEGs. In this study, EEG signals under task and resting state were measured with eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions, and the global false nearest neighbor (FNN) method and Wayland's test were applied. The global FNN method determines the dE, a necessary number of coordinates to unfold the observed orbits from self-overlaps arising from the projection of the attractor to a lower dimensional. On the other hand, Wayland's test can evaluate the degree of visible determinism within noisy data by calculating translation error, parallelness of neighboring trajectories in the phase space. The shapes of FNN curves obtained (a working dimension dependence of FNN percentages) are distributed from the shape of the uniform random numbers to that of low dimensional deterministic chaos added with a white noise. The Wayland curve (working dimension dependence of translation errors) of the signals whose FNN curves are similar to that of uniform random number are located around 1.0, indicating there is no determinism. On the contrary, the Wayland curves of the signals whose FNN curves are the shape of low dimensional deterministic chaos added with white noise are located around 0.3, indicating that there is a determinism contaminated with noise. Surrogate data testing were performed to these chaotic signals together with the Lorentz model. The Lorentz surrogate data tests indicated that the global FNN method is also fooled by surrogated data, while Wayland's test clearly distinguish real (below 0.01) and surrogate data (over 0.1). However, even Wayland's test could not show the difference between observed EEG signals and their surrogates. This is seems be due to the large amount of noise components contained in original data. Furthermore, although we tried the local FNN method which is not sensitive to noise contamination, we could not calculate the numbers of active degrees of freedom of the dynamics. In conclusion, some of EEG signals showed the evidence of low dimensional determinism while others looked like completely high dimensional noise. Large amounts of contaminated noise prevented the calculation of characteristic exponents against known analysis tool. The evidence of determinism was shown only in eyes-closed EEG signals.
Shoda
A network model of personality
Yuichi Shoda & Scott Tiernan, University of Washington
This paper presents an alternative perspective on personality and on the consistency paradox: the apparent contradiction between the persistent empirical findings of behavioral inconsistency across situations, despite psychology's basic assumption of the stability and coherence of personality. We assume that each person is characterized by a stable and distinctive network that guides and constrains the activation of a set of cognitions and affects in response to psychologically salient features of situations. The pattern of connections forms a recurrent, rather than a strictly feedforward, network and the activation levels change over time to satisfy, at least locally, the constraints represented in the network connection weights. Ultimately, when the units that represent action plans and scripts become sufficiently activated, relevant behaviors are generated. In a simulation of this general model, we show that, as expected, the cognitions and affects that are activated at a given time may change, but how they change, and the relations between one cognition and affect and another, are stable, resulting in distinctive if...then..., situation-behavior profiles, that characterize each individual. Furthermore, small differences in the initial condition of such a network can determine which one of several final patterns of activation the system "settles on." This allows for some intrinsic unpredictability in human cognition, affect, and behavior. Capitalizing on this property, the model also simulates the fact that people's reactions are never exactly the same on two occasions even if the external situations they face are virtually the same.
Siegle
Attention to negative information in depression: An
increasingly complex story
Greg Siegle, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego
A great deal of research suggests that some depressed individuals pay excessive attention to negative information. A physiologically based computational neural network is used to motivate examination of how parallel processes representing attention to both affective and semantic aspects of information could explain this finding. The model is made increasingly complex by accounting for individual differences in feedback between and within brain structures responsible for identifying these aspects of information, parameters governing the network's behavior, and stimuli to which individuals are exposed. The network's explanatory power is evaluated by comparisons with increasingly rich empirical data. The network's behaviors are first used to account for patterns of individual differences in reaction times and signal detection rates in response to tasks in which individuals' attention is directed toward affective or semantic aspects of information. Individual differences in pupil dilation curves (a correlate of cognitive load) generated in response to the tasks are simulated by examining parameters governing the entire simulated time course of attentional allocation to emotional information. Finally, chaotic and non-chaotic attractors present in feedback loops within the networks are described, and their origin is related to individual differences in cholinergic suppression of synaptic modification during sleep. Conclusions are advanced regarding different levels of complexity at which it is useful to model individual differences in information processing in individuals with and without affective psychopathologies.
Signorini
Object-oriented evolutionary inheritance: a cellular
automata approach.
Jacqueline Signorini & Patrick Greussay, De'partement d'Informatique; Universite' Paris 8, 93526 Saint-Denis (France)
It is well-known that the process of self-organization is hierarchical. Natural selection with evolution can be considered as such a process, involving many occurences of property and capacity inheritance [1,2]. We consider the application of object-oriented concepts to such inheritances in analogy with classical subclassing in computing environments. In the context of emergent set of transition rules for cellular automata, inheritance between states can be involved as specializations, specifications, extensions and multiple subclassing [3]. As an illustration, we suggest a cellular automaton based on state inheritance for modelling the evolving of an arithmetic unit: a circulating state can evolve by natural selection into a carry state for an adder device. This is a simple case of artificial emergence for a universal computing device, using property inheritance of object-oriented programming. [1] Dawkins, R., Climbing mount improbable (chapter 5), Penguin Books, 1997. [2] Arthur, W.B., On the evolution of complexity, in Complexity: metaphors, model, reality, Eds. Cowan Pines, Meltzer, Addison-Welsey, 1994. [3] Budd, T., An introduction to object-oriented programming, Addison-Wesley, 1997.
Stamovlasis
Application of Complexity Theory to an Information
Processing Model in Science Education
Dimitrios Stamovlasis and Georgios Tsaparlis, University of Ioannina, Department of Chemistry, Ioannina, Greece.
The current work re-examines the role of working-memory capacity in problem solving in science education. It treats an information-processing model with tools of the complexity theory. Non-linear methods are used to correlate the subjects' achievement scores with working-memory capacity. Data have been taken from the achievement scores in simple organic-synthesis chemical problem. The subjects (N = 319) were in grade twelve (age 17-18). Problems of various Z-demand (that is the number of steps needed to solve the problem) from two to eight, were used. Rank-order sequences of the subjects, according to their scores, were generated, and in the place of each subject, his/her score was then replaced by the value of working memory capacity measured by the digit backward span test. Then the sequence was mapped to a one-dimensional random walk model. These sequences of symbols, when treated as dynamic flows were found to possess fractal geometry with characteristics depending on the Z-demand of the problem. The findings were interpreted using concepts from the complexity theory, such as correlation exponents, fractal dimensions and entropy. He null hypothesis was tested with surrogate data. In addition the role of other psychometric variables (disembedding ability and developmental level) is also examined.
Stein
Psychotherapy as an Emergent Phenomenon: One Application of
AL Principles to Clinical Practice
Stein, Center for the Study of Nonlinear Systems, Depth Psychology and the Arts
Psychotherapy's foundations are undergoing renewal in light of nonlinear thinking. A patient's evolving "self," for example (a traditionally not-necessarily-conscious, executive agent), is increasingly perceived as complex and instantaneously emergent rather than inherited and unfolding. Other foundational issues such as developmental accretion, universal applicability and the relative stability of the therapist's "self," however, have been less deeply considered. From this perspective, for therapy to occur two different views of reality must interface: the first is a Euclidian/Gallilean space-in-time (a rational world, filled with accretive, relatively stable objects reflecting see-touch reality), whose dynamics are traditionally associated with the therapist. The second is a relativistic space-time (transitional in nature and sometimes filled with not-necessarily-accretive objects that distort the space-time itself, reflecting "psychic" reality), with self-organizing dynamics increasingly associated with the patient. A stated goal of such an interaction is that the therapist will provide a context in which to modify the patient to make the latter's properties more like his own. This dualism, reminiscent of Aristotle's eidos operating on dumb matter, can be simplified: the patient's self and the therapist's self, as objects, can emerge within the same space-time, a depth psychologically "transitional space"-time, whose self-organizational properties necessarily contradict its universal applicability. We must then, change our perspective to a single field within which both emerge. If mapped onto CA, both "selves" appear as UTM haltings: they may also appear as solitons, quanta or other quasi-objects. In the former case, psychotherapy emerges as a soliton-soliton interaction. In the latter, the therapeutic interaction emerges as quantum-gravitational space-time distortions. In this talk, I will review these issues and suggest their clinical implications.
Terni
How NDS is perceived by psychological schools
Dr. Paolo Terni
This paper reviews some articles regarding Nonlinear Dynamical System theory appeared in journals of different psychological currents; particular attention is paid to how NDS is presented and what kind of use of this theory is suggested by the authors. A few epistemological considerations follow this analysis; specifically, the needs that NDS is supposed to satisfy in psychoanalysis and behaviorism are made explicit and the epistemological implications of NDS regarding the basic assumptions and key tenets of both schools are discussed.
Thompson
BOBs Tracks: The Emergence and Dissipation of Conversational
Attractors
Henry L. (Dick) Thompson, Ph.D., High Performing Systems, Inc., Watkinsville, GA., 30677, USA. Voice Phone: 706-769-5836. E-mail: hpsys@aol.com and Stephen H. Thompson, (Student, University of Georgia) Watkinsville, GA., 30677, USA. Voice Phone: 706-769-5836. E-mail: hpsys@aol.com
One technique for studying Jungian typology is to look at the mind as a complex adaptive system. In this approach, psychic patterns (personality) are the result of complex behaviors generated by ?agents? (functions, archetypes, complexes, etc.) following a set of simple rules. In this session we report the results of the first operational model of Jung's typology using complexity theory and artificial intelligence technology to create an interactive computer simulation. The Basic Orientation in Behavioral Systems (BOBs) model will be used to show how conversational attractors emerge and dissipate within a stranger group reception scenario. The real time simulation demonstrates sensitive dependence on initial conditions as well as the robust mediation effect of psychological Type. This research illustrates the power of the BOBs simulation for use with management teams, individual counseling, problemsolving teams and other general types of research. Attendees will agree that the BOBs model opens up a new paradigm for studying human interaction as we enter the new millennium.
Tiernan
Personality as stable and unique patterns of variation in
social behavior
Scott Tiernan, University of Washington
This paper presents a conceptualization of personality and a paradigm that allows for empirical investigation of complex interactions between the person and the environment. The approach contrasts sharply with the more traditional view of personality, which relies on static, enduring traits as the language of personality psychology. Instead, the system is dynamic. It is theorized that within a dynamic interplay between the person and the social world are characteristic patterns in the way each person processes social information. It is these patterns that define personality. Computational models are examined that simulate the processing of situational information, with situation "features" as input and behavioral responses as output. Before modeling how a person responds to social situations, we must establish that we can identify that person's unique way of responding to social stimuli, and that the response patterns are stable over time and across situations. This is the first step in developing the paradigm. Thus, we present a method for empirically identifying an individual's unique and stable pattern of situation feature processing. Results are discussed with regard to identifying a unit of analysis for describing features of social situations.
Toifl
Selforgranization of the
Development of the Self-Qualitative Model for Research
Karl Toifl; Neuropsychiatric clinic for children and adolescents; University Vienna; Austria; A-1090 Vienna; Währinger Gürtel 18 - 20; E-mail: Karl.Toifl@akh-wien.ac.at
The selforganisation process in dynamic and complex systems occurs according to characteristic principles. These are also valid for the complexity and dynamics of the human system and for the development of the human self. A qualitative research model (a qualitatively oriented case study) permitting the investigation of the quality of the development of the individual self will be presented. For this purpose 15 categories from the biological, psychological and social fields which are regarded as essential influencing factors are defined. The information required may be obtained by means of a semistructured interview. The information is classified into the 15 categories on the one hand, and on the other thus evaluated, in order to determine wether it is to be interpreted as inhibitory or facilitating for the selforganising development of a healthy human self. The quality of the development of the self may be evaluated according to the relationship between inhibitory and facilitating aspects.
Toifl
A Qualitative Research Model for the Development of the Self
in Psychotic Patients.
Karl Toifl; Neuropsychiatric clinic for children and adolescents; University Vienna; Austria; A-1090 Vienna; Währinger Gürtel 18 - 20; Philipp Mayring; Institute for paedagogic psychology and soziology: Hochschule Ludwigsburg; D-71602; Reuteallee 46; PF 220
A pilot project investigating the selforganising process of the bio-psycho-social complexity and dynamics in the course of development into a „psychotic self" is presented. The research model is based on a qualitative scientific approach (a qualitatively oriented case study). Using 15 categories which are regarded as essential areas of influence from the biological, psychological and social fields for the development of the self, a semistructured interview was carried out with a family with a psychotic patient. The information obtained was examined according to inhibitory and / or facilitating impact factors for the development of a „healthy self" and classified into 15 categories. The working hypothesis assumes that in this selforganising process the inhibitory considerably overweigh the facilitating impact factors.
Torre
Hearts & Minds: A Dynamical Approach to Emotions and
Patterns of Physiological responsiveness
Carlos Antonio Torre, Southern Connecticut State University
Hearts & Minds Educational Research Project explores the emotions children experience as they learn. It examines how different educational processes and activities mediate the experience of emotion and how these emotions encourage or restrain children's ability to learn. Through the use of recurrence plot analysis (RPA), a cutting-edge pattern analysis and quantification tool, my work proposes to build on previous and present research seeking to identify characteristic patterns in the autonomic nervous system that are associated with specific emotions: blood pressure; facial expressions; skin conductance (Ekman, Izard, Davidson, and others). The objectives are to: 1) search for evidence of correlation between particular emotions and specific patterns in the child's physiological responses (e.g.: variability in the heart's R-R intervals (RRI) --the time between heartbeats; 2) consider how these patterns vary among diverse student populations (culture, gender, physical or mental ability); and 3) assess what these results may imply about the effectiveness of the various educational methodologies, teaching practices, learning environments, and curricula content employed in the project's research activities. This research has significant scientific and practical value. Intrinsically, it may help further clarify the role of emotions in education and help identify important teaching practices related to the development of readiness to learn and "openness" to learning in children.
Voitsekhovich
Synergetics as communicative philosophy
Voitsekhovich V.E., Department of Philosophy (Tver State University), Russia, 170000 Tver, ul. Zelabova, 33
The scientific community interprets synergetics as: a) an aggregate of local scientific theories, b) a general scientific theory, c) an intellectual trend in science, art, religion, d) the beginnings of a new world view of the new type, based on new principles. This world view synthesizes science, philosophy and religion, but is not reduced to them. The reduction (<projection) of the former to philosophy is communicative philosophy. Its leading method is dialogue (i.e. exchange of information between friendly subjects who seeking mutual cooperation. The scientific community (on the west) must leave the impasse of subject-object mentality. This thought is based on splitting a single totality (= reality)into Ego and non-Ego (subject and object). Since the greater part of information about reality is lost in such type of cognition. A new paradigm of science develops out of this non-eventual approach (neuronic nets, cell automatons, synergetic computers, artificial intelligence, the problem of complexity in mathematics ...). Communicative philosophy: a) criticizes language as an extremely crude form of thinking, b) studies the problem of Nothingness in philosophy, of the <Great Emptiness (in taoism), of Silence (in isichasm as a teaching on the silent prayer in Orthodoxy) as methods of meditation and cognition. An important aspect of synergetics is the interpretation of cognition in the context of biocybernetic evolution. Synergetics develops the conception of personal knowledge, based on passion. Hegel said that everything outstanding is born out of passion. Hence there are religious themes in synergetics. Scientific impassivity is an illusion. The truth is revealed only to the one, who passionately aspires for it.
Weinberg
Chaos Theory, Hemispheric Brain Processing and Brief Therapy
Rita Weinberg, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Dept. of Educational Psychology, National-Louis University, Wheeling, IL 60090-7201.
This presentation deals with an exploration of how we can understand through Chaos theory, how the brain processes the newer quicker therapies, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Thought-Field-Therapy (TFT), which produce changes very rapidly. The question is how does the person's condition change from a highly traumatized mal-adaptive state to the sudden turn-around of having no negative reactions or thoughts to the trauma which has affected them for so long. EMDR appears to open neural networks to facilitate change. In Thought Field Therapy, clearing the energy flow allows new self-organization to occur and to lead to a different level of complexity. Chaos theory extends our understanding of how non-linear brain patterns of left and right hemispheres differ and how they process such rapid changes. We explore the implications of changing rhythm of patterns, their chronicity, how each appears to work with short term therapeutic techniques and why change can be effected so quickly. We know that non-linearity is paradoxical and that our former understanding that therapy takes a long time does not apply to these recent interventions. We also explore the interdependence of left and right brain patterns, their mutual effect in overcoming traumatic stress. We look at fixed attractors and entrainment as well as bifurcation's role in the abrupt shift to healthier mental adaptation.
Yevin
Attractor network model and structure of musical tonality.
I. Yevin, Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Moscow, Russia, 117334 and S. Apjonova, Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Moscow, Russia,117334
The attractor network model
embodies the properties of an associative content-addressable memory. Every
stored image (pattern, meaning or note) corresponds appropriate minimum on the
potential function. Imprinting a pattern lowers its energy and the energy of
all pattern in the vicinity. This creates a basin of attraraction. Such system
would be able to recognize inputting pattern which is pulled into one of the
closest keypattern. Almost all familiar melodies are built around a central
tone toward which the other tones gravitate and on which the melody usually
ends. This central tone is the keynote, or tonic. Three stable steps of
tonality: tonic, median, and dominant are keynotes or attractors of neural
network model. Others steps of tonality: subdominant, submedian, ascending
introductory sound, descending introductury sound play the role of recognizable
patterns, gravitating to some or other keynote. For centuries, the idea a
tonality was a basic principle of music. After 1900, some composers abandoned
tonality; but even today much of the music we hear is tonal.
End of Abstract Listings.