In Search of Equilibrium

• In Event: 30260 - Joint Roundtables: Section on Social Psychology and Section on Sociology of Emotions
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 2: Networks and Mathematical Social Psychology

Abstract

One of the intersections between sociological social psychology and mathematical sociology is the relationship between “control” (also called “balance” or “equilibrium”) theories and the mathematics of nonlinear dynamical systems. In social psychology control theories posit a system in which “feedback” (that is, information about the immediate past state of a system) becomes part of the cause of action in the present. This is usually predicted to keep the system in a steady equilibrium state but may also lead to change. In this paper, I argue that nonlinear dynamical system models deal with the same elements, a set of states over time with feedback from past states to the present situation. They are thus appropriate as models for equilibrium models in social psychology, but they present difficulties: they are nonlinear, deterministic and require computer methods to solve. These difficulties can be overcome as shown by an example from a model of amount of talking in a set of small discussion groups.

Author

• Barbara F. Meeker, University of Maryland College Park