Current Research in Social Psychology

We present an alternative view to the dominant discourse in scientific psychology, where researchers are concerned primarily with predictability of phenomena based largely on simple tests of linear relation. Instead, the time-dependent and evolving nature of social experience and interaction can be examined using the methodology of nonlinear dynamical systems theory (NDS). We review relevant concepts from key content areas ("chaos" theory, catastrophe models and self-organising networks) and assess their applicability to the modelling of social psychological phenomena. In addition, we offer a guide to re-analysing existing "between subjects" data for nonlinearity, and "within subjects" data for dynamical change. NDS provides useful metaphors, models and analytical tools for developing qualitative process as opposed to quantitative outcome models. [Page 60] --------------[61]