Problem 6

Question 1

Complex systems theory

Answer 1

Suggests that complex systems all have certain principles in common that predict their behavior

–> characterized by phase transitions between high vs low resilience

Question 2

High resilience

in a complex system

Answer 2

Refers to a high level of stability of the system

–> system can easily face struggles w/o loosing its current equilibrium

Question 3

Low resilience

in a complex system

Answer 3

Refers to highly unstable systems

–> minor disturbances can push the system over a tipping point

Question 4

There are reasons to assume that psychopathology behaves according to the principles of complex systems.

Why is that ?

Answer 4

Because there are several principles of complex systems that can be use to understand the nature of psychopathology

–> usable to foresee transitions in symptoms and thus reduce or prevent them

Question 5

Hysterisis

Answer 5

Refers to the fact that recovery is not linearly related to the removal of the cause of the shift

Question 6

EWS

Answer 6

Refer to early warning signals

–> predict/ foresee symptom shifts

Question 7

Name the 4 principles of complex systems that are applicable to psychopathology.

Answer 7

1. Sudden shifts in symptoms are observed in patients
   - -> not always but are common
2. These changes occur in the absence of an obvious, temporally proximal cause/reason
   - -> usually when low resilience
3. Elements within a complex system are in a continuous interplay with each other
   - -> may form vicious cycle
4. Transitions in symptom levels can be anticipated by directly assessing changes in the stability of the system
   - -> checking

a) autocorrelation
b) flickering
c) variance

Question 8

Are those findings applicable to every mentally ill person ?

Answer 8

No, the structure of psychopathology + its supposed dimensions may differ per person

1. one person can trigger certain diseases because they are close in multidimensional space
   - -> may not be true for everybody
2. clusters themselves can differ per person with regard to its content

THUS: psychiatry needs personalized approaches to succeed

Question 9

Continuous behavior change paradigm

CBC

Answer 9

Suggests that changes on behavior result from rational + analytical thinking

–> they are thus assumed to be linear + continuous

BUT: behavior changes are not always this way

Question 10

Quantum behavior change

QBC

Answer 10

Suggests that a behavior change can also be unexpected, sudden + nonlinear in addition to the things mentioned in CBC

–> alternative paradigm which overcome the limitations of the CBC

Question 11

Dual process theory

Answer 11

Posits that 2 different cognitive systems aid in behavioral decision making

1. System 1
   - -> intuitive + impulsive; thus fast
2. System 2
   - -> analytic + logical; thus slow

Question 12

Cusp catastrophe model

Type of catastrophe model

Answer 12

A sudden behavioral change is exhibited once the predictor variables cross the “cusp” threshold

–> can occur for 2 control factors/variables

Question 13

Catastrophe models

Answer 13

Are developed to describe complex natural + social phenomena

–> belong to nonlinear dynamic systems

ex.: earthquakes, social turmoil

Question 14

Dynamics

Answer 14

Refers to the study of the way systems change

–> the effect of forces on the behavior of systems over time + manner in which the systems seek stable states (attractors)

e.g.: can be used to explore simple + complex systems

Question 15

Dynamic system

Answer 15

Refers to a system whose changes over time can be characterized by a set of equations

–> these show how current values of variables depend mathematically on previous values of those variables

BUT: have to be described in non-linear equations

Question 16

State space

Answer 16

Refers to a set of states a system can be in

–> determined by the variables that are used to measure it

e.g.: weather model = keeps track of temperature, humidity etc giving one a 15 variables

Question 17

Non linear System

Answer 17

Jump from one point in state space to another different point in a short period of time

–> erratic behavior

e.g.: weather can change in a couple of hours dramatically

THUS: the change of the output is not proportional to the change of the input

Question 18

Attractors

Answer 18

Refer to relatively stable states, that are portions of the phase state

–> dynamic systems tend to settle here, despite being erratic

Question 19

Phase transition

Answer 19

Happen when one attractor state changes into another

e.g.: when water freezes, the system is put into a qualitatively different state

Question 20

Chaos

Answer 20

Occurs when very small differences in the values of variables if its equations can produce dramatically different outcomes as the system develops (=butterfly effect)

–> can be displayed by a dynamic system

Question 21

Chaotic systems

Answer 21

Display abrupt phase transitions that are difficult to predict, because they depend on minor changes in many variables

Question 22

When we think of the mind as a dynamic system, how are

a) attractors
b) multiple attractors
c) chaos

relatable ?

Answer 22

1. Attractors
   - -> explain stable patterns of behavior
2. Multiple attractors
   - -> explain abrupt phase changes
3. Chaos
   - -> explains the unpredictability of behavior

Question 23

There are 5 types of attractors.

Name them.

Answer 23

1. Fixed point
   - -> simple attractor;
2. Finite number of points
3. Limit cycle
   - -> simple attractor;
4. Limit torus
   - -> changes in characteristic but not in form
5. Strange attractor

Question 24

Linear systems

Answer 24

Its changes can be modeled with 2 or more equations, whose solutions can be combined to obtain another solution

Question 25

Butterfly effect

Answer 25

Describes how a small change in one state of a deterministic non-linear system can result in large differences in a later state

–> underlying principle of chaos

Question 26

A predictor behavior must possess 5 qualities to be considered within the context of catastrophe theory.

Name them.

Answer 26

1. Bimodality
   - -> binary presence/absence of the behavior of interest
2. Inaccessibility
3. Divergence
4. Hysterisis
5. Abrupt transitions

Question 27

Self-organization

Answer 27

Refers to a process by which a structure of pattern emerges in an open system

–> w/o specifications from the outside environment