Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology & Life Sciences

Professional Development Workshops

 

12th Annual International Conference

Portland, OR, USA

August 1- 4, 2002

 

WORKSHOPS-AUGUST 1

 

 

Nonlinear Dynamics and Psychotherapy: Some Current Views--Terry Marks-Tarlow, Susan Mirow, Bob Porter, & Franco F. Orsucci

The focus of this workshop is the use of nonlinear principles in psychodiagnosis and psychotherapy.  A number of "nonlinear psychodynamic" approaches will be discussed, including those with psychophysiological, interpersonal, and intrapsychic roots.  Examples from the literature, as well as from the practice of the workshop coordinators will be provided. The organizers hope to make this a practically useful as well as generally informative workshop, and encourage participation by anyone interested in these exciting new developments in psychotherapy theory and practice.  To the extent possible, this workshop will tie-in with a symposium and paper-session on the same topic planned for the conference itself.  People with papers they think might fit with the theme are encouraged to contact Bob Porter (rjporter@mindspring.com) to discuss how they might wish to participate.

Terry Marks-Tarlow, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist from Santa Monica, CA.  She is also affiliated with the Center for Creativity Research there.  Susan Mirow, M.D., Ph.D., is on the faculty of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT.  Robert J. Porter, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist from Tampa, FL. and professor emeritus from the University of New Orleans.  Franco F. Orsucci MD, PhD is a psychiatrist with public and private practice, and is Director of the Institute for Complexity Studies, Rome, Italy.

 

 

Simulation of Models, Research Design, & Data Analysis in Nonlinear Research--Fred Abraham

This workshop will concentrate on using a few basic computer programs for the simulation of models (Berkeley Madonna) and for data analysis in nonlinear work (Santis), and possibly others. The calibration of analytic techniques includes the exploration of parameters of analysis, the use of Monte Carlo methods, and the running of known models. Analyses will include dimensional analysis, attractor reconstruction, and recurrence plots. This is a not so tough intermediate level, and does not require much mathematical background. It will be almost entirely done via computer exercises. A basic introduction to dynamics is assumed, similar to parts I, II, & III of the introductory workshop given at the SCTPLS's 11th annul convention last year [basic dynamics workshop 2001 outline] or to those found in Abraham, Abraham, & Shaw (1990), Abraham & Gilgen (1995), or other papers of mine or R.H. Abraham's books on visual dynamics.

 

Fred Abraham earned degrees and postdocs at Dartmouth, University of Michigan, Indiana University, UCLA, & UCSanDiego, and has held faculty posts at San Diego State College, The Neuropsychiatric and Brain Research Institutes at UCLA, and special fellowships at UC Irvine and the Marine Biology Laboratory of the University of Washington, and has had adjunct faculty posts at the University of Vermont and Silliman University in the Philippines. He is co-founder of the Winter Conference of Brain Research and the Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology and the Life Sciences, and co-author of two books, A Visual Introduction to Dynamical Systems Theory and Chaos Theory for Psychology, and a CD on introductory concepts of dynamics, and has lectured extensively around the world, from Moscow to Beijing. He is active in human rights and conservation groups, and in music, skiing, and kayaking.

 

 

Organizational Behavior: Managing Emergent Phenomena--Steve Guastello

         

Organizational science has been transformed by concepts from nonlinear dynamical systems theory, especially where self-organization processes are involved. This workshop explores the uses of nonlinear theory and empirical research for practical problems in personnel selection, creative problem solving, organizational change, group coordination, leadership emergence, behavior in hierarchies, forecasting of dynamical system behavior, and safety in complex systems.  Program will emphasize differences between conventional and nonlinear approaches to similar problems with regard to strategy formation, inducing social change, and producing statistically-informed decisions.

 

Stephen J. Guastello, Ph.D. is professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Factors Engineering at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA. He is the author of "Managing Emergent Phenomena" (2002, Publ. Erlbaum), "Chaos, Catastrophe, and Human Affairs" (1995, Publ. Erlbaum) and numerous articles and book chapters on topics related to nonlinear dynamics, organizational psychology, ergonomics, and artificial intelligence.

 

 

Each workshop is $100 ($75 for students); conference registration is separate.  The workshops will run from 1-5 PM.

 

The registration form for the workshops and conference can be found here.  A hotel registration form can be found here.

 

For more information, including a Call for Papers, go here.