Task 6 Flashcards
What is a dynamic system?
A system whose changes over time can be described by equations showing how current values of variables depend on previous values.
What is a state space in dynamic systems?
The set of all possible states a system can be in, determined by its variables.
What is the difference between linear and nonlinear systems?
Linear systems follow simple equations like y = kx + c (predictable behavior).
Nonlinear systems have at least one nonlinear equation, leading to erratic, unpredictable behavior.
What is an attractor in a dynamic system?
A stable state that a system naturally settles into over time
What is a phase transition?
A change from one attractor state to another (e.g., weather shifting from clear skies to a storm).
What does it mean for a system to be chaotic?
Small differences in initial conditions lead to drastic, unpredictable changes over time (e.g., weather forecasting difficulties)
What is the butterfly effect?
A phenomenon where tiny changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale effects over time.
How does the edge of chaos relate to intelligence?
Systems that operate between stability and chaos exhibit complex, adaptive behavior, similar to human cognition and learning.
Why is the mind considered a dynamic system?
It constantly changes states based on internal and external factors, behaving nonlinearly with feedback loops and attractors.
How does complex systems theory apply to psychology?
It explains sudden transitions in mental states, such as relapses in mental disorders or shifts in emotional states.
What is a basin of attraction in psychology?
A stable psychological state that a person is drawn toward unless a major disruption occurs.
How does mental resilience relate to complex systems?
A person with high resilience can withstand stress without major state changes, while a person with low resilience can be pushed into mental illness by small stressors.
What is hysteresis in psychology?
The idea that once a person enters a mental state (e.g., depression), removing the cause does not immediately return them to their previous state.
What is the network perspective on mental illness?
Instead of viewing mental disorders as singular conditions, symptoms interact and reinforce each other, creating self-sustaining patterns.
What is a bridge symptom?
A symptom that connects different clusters of symptoms, increasing the likelihood of transition from one disorder to another (e.g., anxiety leading to depression).
How can early warning signals (EWS) help predict mental state changes?
EWS include:
Increased autocorrelation – Past mental states better predict future states. Increased variance – Fluctuations in symptom intensity become more extreme. Flickering – Rapid switching between symptom states.
How can complex systems theory improve mental health treatment?
By identifying EWS, therapists can intervene before a full relapse occurs, stabilizing mental states early
What is an intractable conflict?
A long-term, unresolved conflict that resists de-escalation despite efforts for resolution (e.g., the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
Why do some conflicts become self-sustaining attractors?
The thoughts, emotions, and actions involved reinforce each other, making the conflict persist even when external conditions change.
How does hysteresis apply to conflict resolution?
Even when causes of conflict are removed, the conflict does not automatically resolve due to ingrained hostility and feedback loops.
What role do positive and negative feedback loops play in conflicts?
Positive feedback loops escalate conflicts, reinforcing hostility.
Negative feedback loops help stabilize peace efforts by reducing escalation.
How can conflict resolution be improved using dynamic systems theory?
By shifting the attractor state toward cooperation rather than trying to force an immediate solution.
What is catastrophe theory?
A mathematical theory describing sudden, nonlinear changes in a system when a threshold is reached.
How does catastrophe theory apply to emotions?
Small stressors can accumulate until a tipping point is reached, leading to a sudden emotional outburst or breakdown.
What is an example of hysteresis in social behavior?
Someone who becomes aggressive under high stress may remain aggressive even after the stress is reduced.
How does cognitive dissonance theory explain hysteresis?
People maintain their beliefs and behaviors even after evidence contradicts them, because changing them would create psychological discomfort.
How does the dynamic systems approach explain child development?
Development is not linear; it involves self-organizing processes where behaviors emerge from interactions between biological and environmental factors.
What is an example of a phase transition in development?
The shift from crawling to walking, where small changes in muscle coordination lead to a dramatic behavioral change.
What is the A-not-B error, and how does dynamic systems theory explain it?
A task where infants continue reaching for a hidden object at location A, even after seeing it moved to location B.
The error emerges due to memory strength, attention, and motor planning interacting over time.
How does self-locomotion affect cognitive development?
Crawling and walking improve spatial memory and problem-solving, shaping how infants interact with their environment.
How does dynamic systems theory challenge traditional AI models?
It suggests that intelligence is fluid and context-dependent, requiring adaptive, nonlinear processing rather than rigid symbolic rules.
Why is parallel processing important for AI inspired by the human brain?
It allows AI to handle multiple streams of information at once, just like dynamic cognitive processes.
How does edge-of-chaos computing relate to AI?
AI that operates between order and chaos can adapt and learn more effectively, mimicking human problem-solving.
Why is surfing the edge of chaos important for intelligence?
It allows flexibility, adaptability, and creativity, balancing stability and innovation in problem-solving.
What are some real-world applications of dynamic systems theory?
Mental health interventions (EWS for relapses).
Conflict resolution strategies (shifting attractors).
AI and robotics (adaptive, non-linear decision-making).
Education (understanding how learning transitions occur).
What is a state space in a dynamic system?
The set of all possible states a system can be in, determined by its variables.
What is an attractor in a dynamic system?
A stable state the system naturally settles into.
What is a phase transition?
A sudden shift from one attractor state to another (e.g., from calm weather to a storm).
What does it mean for a system to be chaotic?
A system where tiny differences in initial conditions lead to drastically different outcomes over time
What is the butterfly effect?
A concept where small changes in a system can lead to huge consequences (e.g., a butterfly flapping its wings influencing a future tornado).
Why is weather prediction difficult in chaotic systems?
Because tiny inaccuracies in initial conditions amplify over time, making long-term forecasts highly uncertain.
How does chaos theory relate to the brain?
The brain’s neural activity is dynamic and sometimes chaotic, allowing for adaptability and creativity.
What is parallel constraint satisfaction in connectionist models?
The process of simultaneously adjusting multiple variables to reach a coherent decision.
How does complex systems theory explain mental illness?
Mental states are self-organizing attractors, and shifts in symptoms occur as phase transitions between different attractor states.
What is a basin of attraction in psychology?
A psychological state that a person is drawn toward, making change difficult unless a major disruption occurs.
How does resilience relate to mental stability?
A resilient person’s mental state is stable, while someone with low resilience can be pushed into mental illness by small stressors.
What is hysteresis in mental health?
The idea that removing a stressor does not immediately restore mental health, because the system remains in a pathological attractor.
What are early warning signals (EWS) in mental health?
Predictors of an impending mental health crisis, including:
Increased autocorrelation – Past states strongly predict future states. Increased variance – Symptoms fluctuate wildly. Flickering – Sudden shifts in mental state.
What is the network perspective on psychopathology?
Mental disorders are not single conditions but clusters of symptoms that reinforce each other.
What is a bridge symptom?
A symptom that connects different clusters, increasing the risk of transitioning between disorders (e.g., anxiety leading to depression).
How can complex systems theory improve therapy?
By tracking EWS and symptom clusters, therapists can intervene before a full relapse occurs.
What is an intractable conflict?
A conflict that resists resolution despite efforts, due to deep-rooted attractor states (e.g., geopolitical conflicts).
How do feedback loops sustain conflict?
Positive feedback loops amplify hostility.
Negative feedback loops stabilize peace.
How does hysteresis apply to conflict resolution?
Even when conflict triggers are removed, the hostility remains due to ingrained mental patterns.
How can conflict resolution use attractor shifts?
Instead of forcing peace, efforts should create new attractors that draw people toward cooperation.
How does catastrophe theory explain emotional outbursts?
Small stressors can accumulate until a tipping point, causing sudden emotional explosions.
What is an example of hysteresis in emotions?
After experiencing extreme anger, a person may remain aggressive even after the original trigger disappears.
How does cognitive dissonance relate to hysteresis?
People resist changing their beliefs, even when confronted with new evidence, because change is psychologically uncomfortable.
Why is edge-of-chaos computing useful for AI?
AI that operates between order and chaos is more adaptive, flexible, and intelligent.
