Sociocybernetics is an interdisciplinary science between sociology and
general systems theory
Systems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems, i.e. cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent components that can be natural or artificial. Every system has causal boundaries, is influenced by its context, defined by its struc ...
and
cybernetics
Cybernetics is the transdisciplinary study of circular causal processes such as feedback and recursion, where the effects of a system's actions (its outputs) return as inputs to that system, influencing subsequent action. It is concerned with ...
. The International Sociological Association has a specialist research committee in the area – RC51 – which publishes the (electronic) ''Journal of Sociocybernetics''.
The term "socio" in the name of sociocybernetics refers to any
social system
In sociology, a social system is the patterned network of relationships constituting a coherent whole that exist between individuals, groups, and institutions. It is the formal Social structure, structure of role and status that can form in a smal ...
(as defined, among others, by
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons (December 13, 1902 – May 8, 1979) was an American sociologist of the classical tradition, best known for his social action theory and structural functionalism. Parsons is considered one of the most influential figures in soci ...
and
Niklas Luhmann
Niklas Luhmann (; ; December 8, 1927 – November 11, 1998) was a German sociologist, philosopher of social science, and systems theorist.
Niklas Luhmann is one of the most influential German sociologists of the 20th century. His thinking was ...
).
Sociocybernetics aims to generate a general theoretical framework for understanding cooperative behavior in the context of a
theory of evolution
Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift act on genetic variation, resulting in certai ...
.
Sociocybernetics claims to include both what are called first order cybernetics and second order cybernetics. Cybernetics, according to
Wiener's definition, is the science of "control and communication in the animal and the machine".
Heinz von Foerster went on to distinguish a first order cybernetics, "the study of observed systems", and a second order cybernetics, "the study of observing systems". Second order cybernetics is explicitly based on a
constructivist epistemology
Constructivism is a view in the philosophy of science that maintains that scientific knowledge is constructed by the scientific community, which seeks to measure and construct models of the natural world. According to constructivists, natural ...
and is concerned with issues of self-reference, paying particular attention to the observer-dependence of knowledge, including scientific theories.
As cybernetics developed, its influence spread within the social sciences. Anthropologists Gregory Bateson and Margret Mead had already been prominent during the Macy conferences. Concepts from cybernetics spread throughout psychology from the 1950s onwards.
[Tilak, S., Glassman, M., Kuznetcova, I., & Pelfrey, G. L. (2021). Applications of cybernetics to psychological theory: Historical and conceptual explorations. Theory & Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/09593543211053804
]
See also
*
Autopoiesis
The term autopoiesis (), one of several current theories of life, refers to a system capable of producing and maintaining itself by creating its own parts.
The term was introduced in the 1972 publication '' Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realizat ...
*
Cliodynamics
*
Dynastic cycle
*
General systems theory
Systems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems, i.e. cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent components that can be natural or artificial. Every system has causal boundaries, is influenced by its context, defined by its struc ...
*
List of cycles
*
Psychology
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...
*
Social cycle theory
*
Sociocracy
*
Sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
*
Superorganisms
*
Systems philosophy
*
Systems thinking
Systems thinking is a way of making sense of the complexity of the world by looking at it in terms of wholes and relationships rather than by splitting it down into its parts.Anderson, Virginia, & Johnson, Lauren (1997). ''Systems Thinking Ba ...
*
War cycles
*
World-systems theory
References
Further reading
*
Béla H. Bánáthy (2000). ''Guided Evolution of Society: A Systems View''. Kluwer Academic/Plenum, New York.
*
Felix Geyer and
Johannes van der Zouwen (1992).
Sociocybernetics in: ''Handbook of Cybernetics'' (C.V. Negoita, ed.). New York: Marcel Dekker, 1992, pp. 95–124.
*
*
* Raven, J. (1994). ''Managing Education for Effective Schooling: The Most Important Problem Is to Come to Terms with Values.'' Unionville, New York: Trillium Press. ()
* Raven, J. (1995). ''The New Wealth of Nations: A New Enquiry into the Nature and Origins of the Wealth of Nations and the Societal Learning Arrangements Needed for a Sustainable Society''. Unionville, New York: Royal Fireworks Press; Sudbury, Suffolk: Bloomfield Books. ()
External links
Sociocybernetics Research Committee RC51-ISAInternational Federation for Systems ResearchCybernetic Principles for Effective Control in Complex OrganizationsJournal of Sociocybernetics
{{Cybernetics
Cybernetics
Interdisciplinary subfields of sociology
Systems theory