Climate, Chaos and Collective Behaviour: A Rising Fickleness

ISBN-13: 9783031152368 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022 / 334 str.

Jaap Van Ginneken

Opis

This book introduces principles of Chaos theory (and Complex Adaptive Systems) to social science, in a lively and elegant way. It applies it to the twin disciplines of mass psychology (under social psychology, mostly in Europe) and collective behavior sociology (mostly in North America) that deal with emergent psychosocial phenomena that lie outside conventional approaches. Each of the eleven chapters begins with a topical ‘case study’ section, on an issue related to climate change and collective behaviour, such as the ‘school strike’ by Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, the Hollywood movie The Day After Tomorrow, and more. This book aims to show that there are fundamental reasons why many phenomena cannot be easily ‘measured, predicted and controlled’, and thus we need to familiarize ourselves with alternative ways of thinking about them.

Spis treści

PART I: Mind Quakes

Chapter 1: Public Opinion as a Complex Adaptive System (CAS)

Chapter 2: The Continuous Mutation of Informal Messages

Chapter 3: Circular Reaction in Media Hypes

PART II: Emerging Collective Behavior

Chapter 4: The Formation of Synergy in Crowds

Chapter 5: The Emergence of Patterns in Opinion Currents

Chapter 6: The Self-Organization of Social Movements

PART 3: Shifting Public Moods

Chapter 7: The Evolving Context of Fashion and Fads

Chapter 8: Critical Thresholds in Fear and Panic

Chapter 9: Possible Attractors, in Outrage and Protest

PART 4: Conclusions

Chapter 10: Phase Transitions in Crazes and Crashes

Chapter 11: Prediction, Planning, and Fundamental Uncertainty

Chapter 12: Summary: Issues Management?

O autorze

Jaap van Ginneken is a Dutch author, specialised in science studies, collective behaviour sociology and mass psychology. He has published some 25 books, the 10 major ones also translated into English. Earlier forerunners of this book were widely hailed as very innovative - yet highly readable.

Blurb

“A trail-blazing book”-Association of Advertisers, The Netherlands.

“Meant to be a catalyst for a paradigm shift in the social sciences”-Ruud Abma, University of Utrecht, Quarterly Psychology & Society. The Netherlands,

“A new conceptual framework … a stimulating interdisciplinary journey that challenges underlying theories ... Recommended” -R.A. Logan, University of Missouri – Columbia, Choice, USA.

“Most readable book … Creative strategy to introduce the fundamentals of complexity theory science to beginners -Shelton A. Gunaratne, Journal of Communication, USA

“I love this book, because it effectively relativizes the row of books next to it on the bookshelf” -Cees van Woerkom, University of Wageningen, Monthly Communicatie, The Netherlands

This book introduces principles of Chaos theory (and Complex Adaptive Systems) to social science, in a lively and elegant way. It applies it to the twin disciplines of mass psychology (under social psychology, mostly in Europe) and collective behavior sociology (mostly in North America) that deal with emergent psychosocial phenomena that lie outside conventional approaches. Each of the eleven chapters begins with a topical ‘case study’ section, on an issue related to climate change and collective behaviour, such as the ‘school strike’ by Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, the Hollywood movie The Day After Tomorrow, and more. This book aims to show that there are fundamental reasons why many phenomena cannot be easily ‘measured, predicted and controlled’, and thus we need to familiarize ourselves with alternative ways of thinking about them.

Jaap van Ginneken is a Dutch author, specialised in science studies, collective behaviour sociology and mass psychology. He has published some 25 books, the 10 major ones also translated into English. Earlier forerunners of this book were widely hailed as very innovative - yet highly readable.