In Sync: The Emergence of Function in Minds, Groups and Societies

by Andrzej K. Nowak

Part Theory.- The how, what, and why of functional synchronization.- Synchronization in the emergence of basic mental functions.- Higher Order Mental Functions.- Mental The synchronization of mind and action.- Synchronization in the Emergence of Social Relations.- Synchronization in Groups and Societies.- Part Social Relevance.- What makes profound, peaceful social transitions successful? The example of the underground Solidarity movement.- Social Entrepreneurs and Social Synchronization.- Family In and Out of SYNC.- Intermittent synchronization in context.

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2020

Reviews

[Talieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book describes the functionality of intermittent synchronization at different levels of abstraction from neural synchronizations, through lower level cognitive functions (e.g., attention, perception, etc.) and higher level psychological concepts such as decision making and self-image to psychological dyads (2-person relationships), to social and group synchronizations.


Although the book does a good job abstracting the dynamical properties of synchronization at different levels, it sometimes gets distracted by details and loses the sight of its bigger picture, to the point that the second part of the book is loosely related to the mathematical dynamics of temporal systems and is based solely on unverified assumptions.


All in all, the book draws a cohesive picture about how synchronization would possibly emerge from systems which are different in scope, while lots of its statements are yet to be tested.