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A Visual Introduction to Dynamical Systems Theory for Psychology (Science Grontier Express Ser)

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This was the first book to explicitly describe how non-linear dynamics applied to psychology. In writing it, Fred Abraham drew on the 4-volume series on visual mathematical books on Dynamics, by Fred's brother Ralph Abraham (a pioneer in chaos theory) and Christopher Shaw. As such, it not only applied non-linear dynamical concepts like Attractors, State Spaces, and Bifurcations to psychology, it actually showed what such mathematical concepts looked like. Though chaos theory has been most useful for psychology as metaphor, the metaphor is immeasurably enriched by understanding - and visualizing - the actual under-pinnings of dynamic change. A difficult to find book at present, but well worth it for anyone interested in how non-linear dynamics is important for not only psychology but any of the so-called "soft" sciences.

This is Fred Abraham's classic visual introduction to chaos theory for psychology. This book was a bible for many of us in the early days when chaos theory was moving into the "soft sciences." Fred was the preacher who revealed its truths to anyone and everyone. Fred is a special person and this was (and is) a special book that anyone interested in chaos theory (or non-linear dynamics in general) should read.