What Is Chaos Theory And What Does It Reveal To Us?
Let’s imagine that we place an egg at the top of a pyramid Now let’s think that we throw a cork at the source of a river.
We will be able to know in which direction the egg will fall or at what point in the river the cork will end up once we have observed the result. However, Could we predict it? Although with the final result numerous models can be developed regarding how the experiment has ended in one way or another, there are a large number of variables that may or may not influence the final result.
There is a theory that indicates that nature and the universe in general do not follow a predictable model, called chaos theory.
Chaos theory is, more than a theory, a paradigm that represented a scientific revolution at the time , reflecting that many systems until now considered deterministic and predictable have severe limits on said predictability. That is, they were not as useful as was believed when it came to predicting future events. This is important, since one of the foundations of science is the ability to eliminate uncertainty about what will happen.
Initiated by Henri Poincaré as a precursor and popularized thanks to the work of the mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz, Chaos theory has been used in fields such as mathematics and meteorology to explain the inaccuracy and difficulty in obtaining predictable results from reality.
The butterfly Effect
This theory is widely known for what is called the butterfly effect, according to which “the weak stroke of a butterfly’s wings can be the cause of a hurricane thousands of miles away.” In this way, it is indicated that the existence of a specific variable can cause or alter others, progressively influencing each other until obtaining a result outside of those expected.
In summary, We can consider that chaos theory establishes that small changes in the initial conditions create large differences with respect to the final result so a large majority of events and systems are not completely predictable.
It is important to keep in mind that despite appearances, the chaos to which this theory refers does not imply a lack of order, but rather that facts and reality do not fit a linear model. However, the chaotic cannot go beyond certain limits. The egg we mentioned in the introduction can only not fall or fall in any direction. In other words, the possibilities are multiple but the results are limited, and there are predispositions for phenomena to happen in a certain way, predispositions known as attractors.
Chaos theory in Psychology
Chaos theory was initially devised in order to explain the existence of divergences in the results of the application of mathematical, meteorological or astrological models. However, this theory It is applicable to a large number of disciplines, including those linked to health sciences and social sciences One of the scientific disciplines in which this theory has some applicability is psychology.
Chaos theory, as a paradigm that concludes that small changes in initial conditions can generate great diversity in results, can serve to explain the enormous diversity that we can find in terms of attitudes, points of view, thoughts, beliefs or emotions. Although, as a general rule, most people seek to survive and self-fulfill in different ways, There is a very wide variety of circumstances that transform our behavior and thinking and shape our way of living life For example, living a relatively happy and peaceful life does not ensure that a person will not develop a mental disorder, just as suffering a severe trauma may not lead to subsequent disorders.
It can be useful in trying to explain why some people can develop mental strengths or problems that others cannot. It can also explain why certain treatments are not effective in certain people even though they are effective in the majority of people. Or why two people with the same genes and the same life experiences do not react in the same way to a specific stimulus or event.
Behind this may be differences in personality, cognitive ability, focusing of attention on specific aspects, emotional and motivational situation at that same moment or multiple other factors.
In addition, Some psychological processes such as anxiety could be linked to chaos theory For many people with anxiety and related disorders, not knowing what can happen when they act in the environment gives rise to a deep feeling of discomfort, and with it a possible active avoidance of what they fear.
In other wordsthe uncertainty generated by the difficulty in establishing reliable predictions, due to the multiple possibilities of a chaotic reality awakens the feeling of worry. The same is true with disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, in which the uncertainty that something feared may happen due to intrusive thoughts induces anxiety and can lead to the use of compulsions as a temporary protective measure.
Small details that change our destiny
Within psychology and this theory, genetics and culture could be considered attractors, producing a certain tendency to behave in a certain way. But this does not mean that we all behave the same or have the same ways of thinking. Behavioral patterns and habits are also attractors, which may explain why in some cases of mental disorders there are relapses.
However, there are also complete remissions of symptoms, due to the introduction of new elements and alternative reconstructions of dysfunctional internal processes. The simple act of passing someone on the street or failing to do so can cause unexpected effects. that make us behave differently.
Human groups and the effect of chaotic theory
The same thing happens in organizations, systems in which multiple elements are interrelated in different ways and with different objectives. In the case of the company, it is widely known that today it is essential that it be able to adapt to changes so that it can remain. However, this adaptability must be constant, since it is not possible to foresee all the situations that may occur. They must be able to cope with chaos.
And there can be a large number of variables that can affect its operation and maintenance. An employee’s production level can be affected by his or her personal circumstances. Customers and/or suppliers of said company may be late in their payments and shipments. Another company may try to acquire the company or attract its workers. There may be a fire that destroys part or all of the work done. The popularity of the company can increase or decrease due to factors such as novelty or the emergence of better alternatives
But in any case, as we have indicated previously, the fact that reality is multiple and chaotic does not imply that it is disordered. Chaos theory teaches that science in general must be adaptable and non-deterministic, always keeping in mind that an exact and absolute forecast of all events is not feasible.
