In Sync: The Emergence of Function in Minds, Groups and Societies (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9783030389864)

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.

Author: Andrzej K. Nowak, Robin R. Vallacher, Ryszard Praszkier
ISBN-10: 3030389863
ISBN-13: 9783030389864
Publisher: Springer
Language: English
Published: 03/17/2020
Pages: 226
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.13lbs
Size: 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.56d