In Sync
The Emergence of Function in Minds, Groups and Societies
- Author(s): Andrzej K. Nowak, Robin R. Vallacher, Ryszard Praszkier, Agnieszka Rychwalska, Michal Zochowski,
- Publisher: Springer Nature
- Pages: 226
- ISBN_10: 3030389871
ISBN_13: 9783030389871
- Language: en
- Categories: Social Science / Methodology , Psychology / Cognitive Psychology & Cognition , Technology & Engineering / Engineering (General) , Social Science / Sociology / General , Social Science / Research , Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / General ,
Description:... This book introduces the reader to the concept of functional synchronization and how it operates on very different levels in psychological and social systems – from the emergence of thought to the formation of social relations and the structure of societies.
For years, psychologists have investigated phenomena such as self-concept, social judgment, social relations, group dynamics, and cooperation and conflict, but have discussed these phenomena seoarately.This book shows how synchronization provides a foundational approach to these otherwise distinct and diverse psychological processes.This work shows that there is a basic tendency with many processes to become coordinated and progressively integrated into increasingly larger units through well-defined processes. For these larger units, new and largely adaptive functions emerge.
Although synchronization affords progressive integration of system elements to enable correspondingly higher-order functions, the trajectory of synchronization is often characterized by periods of assembly and disassembly of system elements. This occurs when a task is completed and synchronization is no longer essential so that the elements once again operate in an independent fashion. It is argued that the disassembly-resynchronization scenario occurs at all levels of psychological and social reality. The implications of this approach for important issues in interpersonal relations and societal processes are discussed.
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