Psychological phenomena in the context of systems theory

Abstract

An attempt is made to consider psychological phenomena from the standpoint of systems theory as a general approach to the study of phenomena of animate and inanimate nature. The basic principles of the general system theory are formulated, the open and closed, linear and nonlinear (dissipative) systems were characterized. Though the mathematical expression of nonlinear dynamical systems and complexity theory concepts is typically highly complicated, the basic concepts involved can be intuitively quite appealing because they often seem to capture the complexity of lived experience. They are typically not taught in undergraduate or graduate psychology programs, however, and so many psychologists are not familiar with them. At the
same time, multiple factors from across biopsychosocial domains typically interact in causing phenomena, and these causes generally do not interact in a simple summative fashion. Large inputs frequently produce small effects, while a small input at the right time can produce a very large effect. To understand such phenomena, a new approach is required, which is presented
in the postulates of synergetics. According to this approach, the processes occurring in living systems are nonlinear and usually not amenable to formalization and modeling. The qualitative difference between psychological phenomena and physical phenomena lies in the fundamental unpredictability of the consequences of the interaction of external and internal factors due to a large number of variables and the complexity of their interrelationship and interaction. The nomothetic approach established in psychology and its derivatives – experimental and statistical methods – are based on a linear approach according to which one reason causes one consequence and one factor gives rise to another factor. Examples of a nonlinear approach to the analysis of psychological phenomena may be the concepts of L.S. Vygotsky, J. Piaget, P.K. Anokhin, G.Engel, S.D. Maksymenko. There are also attempts to investigate the interaction of external and internal factors by allocating some of them and studying the directions of their changes (O.P. Yermolaeva, T.M. Malkova). The conceptual apparatus of psychoenergetic, despite all its criticism, provides new methodological guidelines for a more profound understanding of psychological  phenomena as nonlinear in nature and introduces psychology in the context of contemporary studies of the phenomena of living and nonliving nature.