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Perhaps, if in psychophysiological research, we can phrase our conceptualization of how to rate transactional behavior more in terms of systems, in terms of extents of engagement-involvement, and in terms of specified durations, of where a person is moving across a number of processes of adaptation, we can perhaps come to see more clearly how we work.

Margaret Singer#1

PsychologyResearchMargaret singerBehaviorMethodologySystems

About this quote

What does it mean?
Describing human behavior in systems and durations clarifies how we function.
In plain terms
Viewing behavior as systems helps us understand it.
What can you take from it?
Frame behavior in systems to understand it better.

Where it applies

  • conducting research
  • analyzing data
  • studying psychology

Putting it to work

  • use system frameworks
  • measure engagement
  • track duration

Questions to consider

  • How should we measure behavior?
  • Does systems thinking help?

Another view

Systems thinking may oversimplify human complexity.

More from Margaret Singer

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  3. I started hearing from families who had missing members, many of them young kids on our campus, and they all would describe the same sorts of things. A sudden …

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