title: Emotional contagion and proto-organizing in human interaction dynamics.
abstract: This paper combines the complexity notions of phase transitions and tipping points with recent advances in cognitive neuroscience to propose a general theory of human proto-organizing. It takes as a premise that a necessary prerequisite for organizing, or "proto-organizing," occurs through emotional contagion in subpopulations of human interaction dynamics in complex ecosystems. Emotional contagion is posited to engender emotional understanding and identification with others, a social process that acts as a mechanism that enables (or precludes) cooperative responses to opportunities and risks. Propositions are offered and further research is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Adelphi University , New York, NY, USA ; Mälardalen University , Västerås, Sweden.
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hazy
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Boyatzis
keywords: complexity; emotional states; group dynamics; social contagion