Chaos, Catastrophe, and Human Affairs: Applications of Nonlinear Dynamics To Work, Organizations, and Social Evolution

by Stephen J. Guastello

Book Overview

Whether talking about steering a wheelbarrow over rugged terrain or plotting the course of international relations, human performance systems involve change. Sometimes changes are subtle or evolutionary, sometimes they are catastrophic or revolutionary, and sometimes the changes are from periods of relative calm to periods of vibrant oscillations to periods of chaos. As a general rule, more complex systems are likely to produce more complex forms...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805816348
• ISBN13: 9780805816341
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Length: 450 Pages
• Weight: 2.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 7.1" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A highly sophisticated discussion.

Topics covered in this work, apart from the core mathematical theories, are centered around catastrophe and chaos theory applications to human problems in industry since 1980. The author provides a highly sophisticated discussion of such subjects as decision making, the dynamics of motivation and conflict, stress and performance, and the evolution of human systems. Excellent references. Highly recommended.