The Mathematics of Behavior [Hardcover]

This book is about using mathematics to think about how humans (and other animals) behave.This book illustrates how mathematics can be used to understand human and animal behavior, using examples in psychology, sociology, economics, ecology, and even marriage counseling. It is intended as an introduction to the use of mathematical thinking in the social and behavioral sciences.This book illustrates how mathematics can be used to understand human and animal behavior, using examples in psychology, sociology, economics, ecology, and even marriage counseling. It is intended as an introduction to the use of mathematical thinking in the social and behavioral sciences.Mathematical thinking provides a clear, crisp way of defining problems. Our whole technology is based on it. What is less appreciated is that mathematical thinking can also be applied to problems in the social and behavioral sciences. This book illustrates how mathematics can be used to understand human and animal behavior, using examples in psychology, sociology, economics, ecology, and even marriage counseling.1. Introduction; 2. Applying probability theory to problems in sociology and psychology; 3. From physics to perception; 4. When systems evolve over time; 5. Non-Linear and chaotic systems; 6. Defining rationality - personal and group decision making; 7. How to evaluate evidence; 8. Multidimensional scaling surveying the geography of the mind; 9. The mathematical models behind psychological testing; 10. How to know you asked a good question; 11. The construction of complexity: how simple rules make the complex organizations; 12. Connectionism: computation connects mind and brain; 13. L'Envoi; References; Index. In summary, this book represents an interesting, if mathematically daunting, show of force strongly suggesting the pursuit of formal mathematical thinking in behavioral science research and inclusion of expanded mathematical requirements and skill acquisition for behavioral science students. Thelc¿