Chaos Theory in Psychology

From Book News, Inc.
Chaos refers to the complex patterns formed by interactive convergent and divergent forces in dynamical systems, and its theories imply that research projects can be designed to reveal the patterns of change that define the whole system. After defining basic orientations and concepts in chaos and dynamics and their relation to psychology, chapters describe research in dynamical analysis of behavior and cognition, neural nets, and applications to social progress. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Book Description
This collection of essays shows how chaos concepts have motivated theory, research, and applications in many areas of psychology, from neurophysiology to social psychology. While it includes chaos theory, fractals, and neural nets, its central theme is how dynamical modeling in psychology may provide for a proper balance of unification and diversity throughout the field. The volume provides not so much the technical details of the field, but rather examples of both research and professional applications of the many directions that innovations using this unifying approach can take. It is written at a level accessible to the lay reader, but sufficiently sophisticated to enlighten graduate and upper-level undergraduate students, as well as professionals seeking to employ this approach in psychology.

About the Author
FREDERICK DAVID ABRAHAM has held academic positions at the University of California-Los Angeles, San Diego, and Irvine, and the University of Vermont. He has written extensively on the applications of dynamical systems theory to brain and behavior. He is co-author of A Visual Introduction to Dynamical Systems Theory for Psychiatry (1990).


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Chaos refers to the complex patterns formed by interactive convergent and divergent forces in dynamical systems, and its theories imply that research projects can be designed to reveal the patterns of change that define the whole system. After defining basic orientations and concepts in chaos and dynamics and their relation to psychology, chapters describe research in dynamical analysis of behavior and cognition, neural nets, and applications to social progress. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)


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