> IMO, we're psychological individuals first, and then psycho-socially
> situated members of a social dynamic second. But I can see
> how different
> people might want to focus on one end of the spectrum or the other (or
> both).
>
> Mike Sellers
>
Dear Mike,
I am fine with the appreciation of ourselves as psychological individuals
first, and then psycho-socially situated members of a social dynamic second.
However, the specific focus on "social" simulations (Simsoc?) is on the
social coordinationation mechanisms and not on the individual psychologies.
There are rich research traditions in psychology, AI, and social psychology
who stuy human minds and human behaviour.
This was the background of my remark. We have poor understanding of social
coordination mechanisms in sociological terms and I hope that social
simulations can contribute to these "control" ("enabling and constraining")
mechanisms.
With best wishes,
Loet
________________________________
Loet Leydesdorff
Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR)
Kloveniersburgwal 48, 1012 CX Amsterdam
Tel.: +31-20- 525 6598; fax: +31-20- 525 3681
[log in to unmask] ; http://www.leydesdorff.net/
|