Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Introduction: Why a dynamic systems approach to fostering human development?
- Part I Dynamic relationships between genetics and environments
- Part II The dynamic system of the child in the family
- Part III The dynamic system of the child in social and physical environment
- Part IV Dynamic systems approaches to mental health
- Part V Conclusions and outlook
- Index
Introduction: Why a dynamic systems approach to fostering human development?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Introduction: Why a dynamic systems approach to fostering human development?
- Part I Dynamic relationships between genetics and environments
- Part II The dynamic system of the child in the family
- Part III The dynamic system of the child in social and physical environment
- Part IV Dynamic systems approaches to mental health
- Part V Conclusions and outlook
- Index
Summary
The dynamic systems approach is an emerging interdisciplinary set of principles used by a diverse collection of scientists to help understand the complex world in which we live. The main insight that unites these scientists, despite wide differences in methods and concepts, is a focus on connections and relationships. A relationship between a particular parent and child, for example, is distinguished by the expressions and gestures as well as the words by which they understand each other. A parent's raised eyebrow might mean “pay attention,” or “be careful” to their child. This small and subtle gesture has meaning to both parent and child because they have worked it out together by repeatedly learning how to understand each other, negotiating their mutual needs and goals. The raised eyebrow represents that whole history of the growth of the relationship. The relationship is a dynamic system because it changes over time (it is dynamic) and because the mutually understood gestures are the result of both people working together to create something that is more than either one of them alone (it is a relationship system). A dynamic system is a relationship that grows over time, has a history, and is more than the simple sum of its parts.
A more traditional approach to understanding the world treats the parent and child as separate entities, each of which affects the other.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human Development in the Twenty-First CenturyVisionary Ideas from Systems Scientists, pp. 1 - 8Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007