title: Interaction with the environment: anthropological cybernetic model.
abstract: Cybernetics is primarily concerned with the transfer of information through, and (re)actions of systems. The research aim was to investigate models of interaction dynamics between an anthropological system and its environment. Equifinality dynamic model defined by three compartments and propensity for establishment of a steady state regardless of the initial conditions was applied. The intention was to apply this concept in anthropological research using the OPSIM procedure. DYNOPS model defined by four age-group compartments and the environment was also used. The model was applied on the census of the Bogomolje village on the island of Hvar (R. Croatia). Through numerous simulations, it was found that the influence of the environment increases with the decrease of time spent in the young age compartment. A drawback of DYNOPS model is that it places the environment in an unchangeable category, while in reality it necessarily changes through numerous interactions with various agents. Finally, cybernetics should not only be used to explicate, but also predict and correct undesired communal developments.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boncina
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ivković
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jovanović
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000883:Anthropology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003491:Cybernetics; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical