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Conflict and the Complexity of Cognitive Processes

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Complex Human Dynamics

Part of the book series: Understanding Complex Systems ((UCS))

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Abstract

From the perspective of Dynamical Systems Theory, the collapse of complexity is one of the crucial phenomena involved in conflict escalation and intractability. It happens when the relations between distinct psychological or social elements involved in conflict become aligned and begin to mutually reinforce each other. At an individual level, a collapse of complexity is reflected in a decrease in the complexity of cognitive processes – the dimensions on which reality is perceived converge, so, at the end of the day it all comes down to being either with us or against us. The first part of this chapter outlines a number of different constructs related to the complexity of cognitive processing, describes their most common measures, and briefly presents their ontogenesis. In the second part, the empirical evidence for the impairment of cognitive capacities in a situation of social conflict is shown. Finally, the Dynamical Systems Theory approach to conflict is briefly presented; focus is placed on the role of complexity, in the processes both of conflict escalation and of conflict resolution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, ul. Stawki 5/7, 00183, Warsaw, Poland

    Katarzyna Samson

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  1. Katarzyna Samson
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Correspondence to Katarzyna Samson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5/7, Warsaw, 00183, Poland

    Andrzej Nowak

  2. Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Hum, Chodakowska Street 19/13, Warsaw, 03815, Poland

    Katarzyna Winkowska-Nowak

  3. Institute for Social Studies, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5/7, Warsaw, 00183, Poland

    David Brée

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Samson, K. (2013). Conflict and the Complexity of Cognitive Processes. In: Nowak, A., Winkowska-Nowak, K., Brée, D. (eds) Complex Human Dynamics. Understanding Complex Systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31436-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-31436-0_6

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