Dynamic Systems, Process and Development

Evaluating the Let's Move It intervention programme theory for adolescents' physical activity: Theorized psychosocial mechanisms of behavioural changes

OBJECTIVES

Behaviour change theories have extensively been used in health behaviour change interventions and their programme theories. However, they are rarely evaluated in randomized field studies. The Let's Move It intervention targeted various psychosocial constructs to increase adolescents' physical activity. A theory-based process evaluation aiming to illuminate the trial findings as well as to test the programme theory used is conducted. Specifically, we investigate whether the intervention influenced the theorized determinants of change immediately post-intervention and after 1 year, and whether these determinants were associated with changes in physical activity.

DESIGN

A cluster-randomized controlled trial (n = 1166).

METHODS

We measured theorized determinants with self-report, and physical activity (PA) with accelerometry and self-report. The effects are evaluated with repeated measures ANOVA and regression models.

RESULTS

No changes were detected in most theorized determinants but intervention arm reported higher enactment of behaviour change techniques used during intervention immediately post-intervention and lower descriptive norms for PA throughout. Autonomous motivation was associated with PA immediately post-intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of intervention effects may be due to many factors, for example insensitive measures, ceiling effects. However, reporting these null effects advances understanding of behaviour change processes. We introduce methodologic possibilities for future intervention programme theory evaluation efforts.

The Integrative Single-Case Design as a Biosemiotic-Systemic Research Tool in Psychoneuroimmunology

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a field of research that deals with the interactions between psyche, nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Investigating these complex PNI relationships under as ecologically valid as possible conditions ("life as it is lived") necessitates a paradigm change in research. This shift places factors such as "time" and "subjective meaning" of personal experiences at the center of the research methodology. For this purpose, the biosemiotic-systemic research design "Integrative Single-Case Study" was developed. Initial results from healthy individuals as well as patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), breast cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) support the validity of the research approach. Specifically, in connection with the occurrence of emotionally meaningful everyday incidents, we repeatedly observed stress system reactions, which were (1) delayed over several days, (2) cyclically patterned, (3) anticipatory, and (4) opposing, depending on a) whether participants experienced emotionally positive or negative everyday incidents, b) whether they were healthy or ill, and c) which stress system parameter was investigated. In this chapter, the Integrative Single-Case Study design is introduced as a holistic research option, presented in detail in its methodology, and critically discussed in terms of its limitations.

A complex systems perspective on chronic aggression and self-injury: case study of a woman with mild intellectual disability and borderline personality disorder

BACKGROUND

Challenging behaviors like aggression and self-injury are dangerous for clients and staff in residential care. These behaviors are not well understood and therefore often labeled as "complex". Yet it remains vague what this supposed complexity entails at the individual level. This case-study used a three-step mixed-methods analytical strategy, inspired by complex systems theory. First, we construed a holistic summary of relevant factors in her daily life. Second, we described her challenging behavioral trajectory by identifying stable phases. Third, instability and extraordinary events in her environment were evaluated as potential change-inducing mechanisms between different phases.

CASE PRESENTATION

A woman, living at a residential facility, diagnosed with mild intellectual disability and borderline personality disorder, who shows a chronic pattern of aggressive and self-injurious incidents. She used ecological momentary assessments to self-rate challenging behaviors daily for 560 days.

CONCLUSIONS

A qualitative summary of caretaker records revealed many internal and environmental factors relevant to her daily life. Her clinician narrowed these down to 11 staff hypothesized risk- and protective factors, such as reliving trauma, experiencing pain, receiving medical care or compliments. Coercive measures increased the chance of challenging behavior the day after and psychological therapy sessions decreased the chance of self-injury the day after. The majority of contemporaneous and lagged associations between these 11 factors and self-reported challenging behaviors were non-significant, indicating that challenging behaviors are not governed by mono-causal if-then relations, speaking to its complex nature. Despite this complexity there were patterns in the temporal ordering of incidents. Aggression and self-injury occurred on respectively 13% and 50% of the 560 days. On this timeline 11 distinct stable phases were identified that alternated between four unique states: high levels of aggression and self-injury, average aggression and self-injury, low aggression and self-injury, and low aggression with high self-injury. Eight out of ten transitions between phases were triggered by extraordinary events in her environment, or preceded by increased fluctuations in her self-ratings, or a combination of these two. Desirable patterns emerged more often and were less easily malleable, indicating that when she experiences bad times, keeping in mind that better times lie ahead is hopeful and realistic.

Understanding the complexity of individual developmental pathways: A primer on metaphors, models, and methods to study resilience in development

The modern study of resilience in development is conceptually based on a complex adaptive system ontology in which many (intersystem) factors are involved in the emergence of resilient developmental pathways. However, the methods and models developed to study complex dynamical systems have not been widely adopted, and it has recently been noted this may constitute a problem moving the field forward. In the present paper, I argue that an ontological commitment to complex adaptive systems is not only possible, but highly recommended for the study of resilience in development. Such a commitment, however, also comes with a commitment to a different causal ontology and different research methods. In the first part of the paper, I discuss the extent to which current research on resilience in development conceptually adheres to the complex systems perspective. In the second part, I introduce conceptual tools that may help researchers conceptualize causality in complex systems. The third part discusses idiographic methods that could be used in a research program that embraces the interaction dominant causal ontology and idiosyncratic nature of the dynamics of complex systems. The conclusion is that a strong ontological commitment is warranted, but will require a radical departure from nomothetic science.

Social Psychology of and for World-Making

ACADEMIC ABSTRACT

Social psychology's disconnect from the vital and urgent questions of people's lived experiences reveals limitations in the current paradigm. We draw on a related perspective in social psychology1-the sociocultural approach-and argue how this perspective can be elaborated to consider not only social psychology as a historical science but also social psychology of and for world-making. This conceptualization can make sense of key theoretical and methodological challenges faced by contemporary social psychology. As such, we describe the ontology, epistemology, ethics, and methods of social psychology of and for world-making. We illustrate our framework with concrete examples from social psychology. We argue that reconceptualizing social psychology in terms of world-making can make it more humble yet also more relevant, reconnecting it with the pressing issues of our time.

PUBLIC ABSTRACT

We propose that social psychology should focus on "world-making" in two senses. First, people are future-oriented and often are guided more by what could be than what is. Second, social psychology can contribute to this future orientation by supporting people's world-making and also critically reflecting on the role of social psychological research in world-making. We unpack the philosophical assumptions, methodological procedures, and ethical considerations that underpin a social psychology of and for world-making. Social psychological research, whether it is intended or not, contributes to the societies and cultures in which we live, and thus it cannot be a passive bystander of world-making. By embracing social psychology of and for world-making and facing up to the contemporary societal challenges upon which our collective future depends will make social psychology more humble but also more relevant.

A Nonlinear Dynamic Approach of the Notion of Interaction

Although it is not so obvious reading many of the interactionist works, interactionist theories can be tightly linked with a nonlinear dynamic approach of the psychological and social processes. The mathematical theory of dynamic systems (DST) could offer a more systematic conceptual and methodological outlook over the notion of interaction. From a DST perspective, interaction may be conceived as an interdependent continuous evolution in time of two or more dynamic variables, which are paradoxically simultaneously separated (as independent sources of variation), and undistinguishable, being united in a new, emergent, source of variation. This conception differs from the popular conception of the interaction as a succession of action and reaction. The key notion that, from a dynamic systems perspective, is linked with interaction is that of coupling, which is rarely used in the interactionist works. Future studies should specify the link between the dynamic approach of interaction and action theories.

Mapping gender stereotypes: a network analysis approach

Introduction

Stereotypes have traditionally been considered as "mental pictures" of a particular social group. The current research aims to draw the structure of gender stereotypes and metastereotype schemes as complex systems of stereotypical features. Therefore, we analyze gender stereotypes as networks of interconnected characteristics.

Method

Through an online survey (N = 750), participants listed the common female and male features to build the structure of the gender stereotypes. Participants also listed the common features of how members of one gender think they are viewed by people of the other gender to build the structure of gender metastereotypes.

Results

Our results suggest that female stereotypes are characterized by a single community of features consistently associated such as intelligent, strong, and hardworkers. Female metastereotype, however, combines the previous community with another characterized by weak and sensitive. On the contrary, the male stereotype projected by women is characterized by a community of features associated such as intelligent, strong, and hardworker, but male in-group stereotypes and metastereotypes projected by men are a combination of this community with another one characterized by features associated such as strong, chauvinist, and aggressive.

Discussion

A network approach to studying stereotypes provided insights into the meaning of certain traits when considered in combination with different traits. (e.g., strong-intelligent vs. strong-aggressive). Thus, focusing on central nodes can be critical to understanding and changing the structure of gender stereotypes.

The Child-Mother-Father-Teacher Relationship Network in Kindergarten and Its Association with Children's Social and Academic Development: An Ecological Perspective

This study examines how a set of the child's proximal relationships (mother-child, father-child, and teacher-child) and parent-teacher relationships relate to the child's prosocial and learning behaviors in kindergarten. The sample included 95 mother-father-child triads (child mean age 5.9 years) and 42 kindergarten teachers. All adults reported on their relationship with the child and on their perceptions of parent-teacher relationships. Teachers reported on the child's behaviors. Main findings: (1) All proximal relationships and the teachers' relationships with mothers and fathers were related to children's outcomes; and (2) different patterns of associations were found between father-child and mother-child relationships, and teacher-child relationship, parent-teacher relationships, and children's outcomes. These findings hint to the different roles of fathers and mothers in their children's development and to distinguished patterns of relationships of mothers and fathers with kindergarten teachers.

Un día en la vida de niños y niñas del Suroccidente Colombiano con experiencias de violencia sociopolítica

La investigación desarrollista sobre la violencia socio-política se ha centrado principalmente en explicar sus efectos psicológicos a mediano y largo plazo en la niñez y ha generalizado a partir de grandes muestras. Pocos estudios se han centrado en explorar momento a momento las experiencias de la vida cotidiana de niños y niñas que sufrieron episodios de ese tipo de violencia. En esta investigación se usó un diseño basado en la observación de un día en la vida de dos niñas y dos niños del Suroccidente Colombiano para describir el contexto en que se desarrollan, cómo se ven a sí mismos y cómo resignifican experiencias de violencia política que vivieron en su primera infancia. Se usaron relatos autobiográficos, entrevistas y un análisis de temas emergentes. Se identificaron identidades y experiencias estrechamente ligadas a la construcción de relaciones basadas en el respeto a los demás, la valoración positiva de sí mismos, el reconocimiento de la familia como organizadora de sus experiencias, la construcción de saberes para desarrollar habilidades y la resignificación de las experiencias dolorosas. La discusión se centró en las implicaciones de adoptar una concepción del proceso de desarrollo en términos de trayectorias de desarrollo no siempre previsibles, ni orientadas a un estado final; así como el papel que tiene el método seleccionado en esa indagación. Se concluye que las experiencias actuales no necesariamente se derivan de trayectorias lineales, pues son afectadas por factores situacionales inherentes a la ecología social en las que viven las personas.  

Human attachment as a multi-dimensional control system: A computational implementation

Attachment is an emotional bond between two people where one seeks care from the other. In the prototypical case, the child attaches to their mother. The most recent theoretical developments point out that attachment is multidimensional - meaning that the phenomenon pertains to multiple domains related to the relationship with the caregiver. However, researchers have so far modeled attachment computationally by mostly adopting a classical categorical (as opposed to dimensional) standpoint that sees the system as controlling caregiver proximity. In contrast, we adopt here a dimensional perspective (DP) and consider dimensions to be the system's set-goals. We hypothesize that the resulting multidimensional controller should lead to valid (or even better) models of the phenomenon. To start testing this hypothesis, we built a DP-informed agent-based model of attachment inspired by the widely-studied Strange Situation Procedure. In this context, child and mother show the nature of attachment bonds through their behavioral and emotional expressions. By modeling them as point-agents moving in a two-dimensional arena, we simulated child-mother interactions for the avoidant and ambivalent attachment dimensions. The generated dynamical patterns - characterized by the alternation between approach and exploration - matched those described in the attachment literature, thereby confirming the implementability and validity of the DP.

Poincaré Maps and Aperiodic Oscillations in Leukemic Cell Proliferation Reveal Chaotic Dynamics

Biological systems are dynamic systems featuring two very common characteristics; Initial conditions and progression over time. Conceptualizing this on tumour models it can lead to important conclusions about disease progression, as well as the disease's "starting point". In the present study we tried to answer two questions: (a) which are the evolving properties of proliferating tumour cells that started from different initial conditions and (b) we have attempted to prove that cell proliferation follows chaotic orbits and it can be described by the use of Poincaré maps. As a model we have used the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line CCRF-CEM. Measurements of cell population were taken at certain time points every 24 h or 48 h. In addition to the population measurements flow cytometry studies have been conducted in order to examine the apoptotic and necrotic rate of the system and also the DNA content of the cells as they progress through. The cells exhibited a proliferation rate of nonlinear nature with aperiodic oscillatory behavior. In addition to that, the (positive) Lyapunov indices and the Poincaré representations in phase-space that we performed confirmed the presence of chaotic orbits. Several studies have dealt with the complex dynamic behaviour of animal populations, but few with cellular systems. This type of approach could prove useful towards the understanding of leukemia dynamics, with particular interest in the understanding of leukemia onset and progression.

Complexity in psychological self-ratings: implications for research and practice

BACKGROUND

Psychopathology research is changing focus from group-based "disease models" to a personalized approach inspired by complex systems theories. This approach, which has already produced novel and valuable insights into the complex nature of psychopathology, often relies on repeated self-ratings of individual patients. So far, it has been unknown whether such self-ratings, the presumed observables of the individual patient as a complex system, actually display complex dynamics. We examine this basic assumption of a complex systems approach to psychopathology by testing repeated self-ratings for three markers of complexity: memory, the presence of (time-varying) short- and long-range temporal correlations; regime shifts, transitions between different dynamic regimes; and sensitive dependence on initial conditions, also known as the "butterfly effect," the divergence of initially similar trajectories.

METHODS

We analyzed repeated self-ratings (1476 time points) from a single patient for the three markers of complexity using Bartels rank test, (partial) autocorrelation functions, time-varying autoregression, a non-stationarity test, change point analysis, and the Sugihara-May algorithm.

RESULTS

Self-ratings concerning psychological states (e.g., the item "I feel down") exhibited all complexity markers: time-varying short- and long-term memory, multiple regime shifts, and sensitive dependence on initial conditions. Unexpectedly, self-ratings concerning physical sensations (e.g., the item "I am hungry") exhibited less complex dynamics and their behavior was more similar to random variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological self-ratings display complex dynamics. The presence of complexity in repeated self-ratings means that we have to acknowledge that (1) repeated self-ratings yield a complex pattern of data and not a set of (nearly) independent data points, (2) humans are "moving targets" whose self-ratings display non-stationary change processes including regime shifts, and (3) long-term prediction of individual trajectories may be fundamentally impossible. These findings point to a limitation of popular statistical time series models whose assumptions are violated by the presence of these complexity markers. We conclude that a complex systems approach to mental health should appreciate complexity as a fundamental aspect of psychopathology research by adopting the models and methods of complexity science. Promising first steps in this direction, such as research on real-time process monitoring, short-term prediction, and just-in-time interventions, are discussed.

Inching Toward a Unified Metatheory for Psychology

Zagaria et al. (2020) have aptly suggested that as a discipline, psychology is a giant with feet of clay. Drawing on the content of introductory textbooks, the authors show that there is little coherence and consensus about the meaning of key psychological terms - including such terms as psychology, mind, behavior. Drawing on evidence marking psychology is a "soft" science, the authors suggest that psychology can profit by adopting the "hard" foundation of evolutionary psychology as its metatheory. While Zagaria et al.'s characterization of psychology's fractious foundation has deep merit, their desire to erect a psychological metatheory on evolutionary psychology is unlikely to solve the problem they so aptly identify. At the least, I suggest a unified metatheory must: (a) establish a shared psychological lexicon; (b) elaborate a methodology that coordinates first-, second- and third-person modes of inquiry, and (c) develop a process model that describes psychological functioning at the biological, psychological and socio-cultural levels of analysis. To illustrate, I describe how contemporary relational and systems frameworks provide a framework that can move us in these directions.