Social systems exist on multiple scales from the individual to society. Lower scales like individuals and groups adapt more quickly through cycles of identity and association. The dominant associations on higher scales like societies influence choices on lower scales. However, if alternative associations spread rapidly across many individuals, it can challenge and potentially change the dominant association on higher scales, through a process of revolt. Social systems are interconnected across scales, with dynamics on smaller scales capable of influencing and being influenced by dynamics on larger scales.

1. Multiple
Scales In
Social
Systems BasDeBaar.com

2. How multiple social systems
influence each other.
Large and small groups exist.
Society. Countries. Organizations. Teams.
Our decisions about our identity make or break groups.
But dominant associations in society influence our choices.
If a lot of people make the same choice, it influences society.
Social groups adapt using identity.
This is not only dependent on our current sentiments.
This is also dependent on other scales of the social system.

3. Acknowledgements
This presentation is the sequel to my presentation:
The Adaptive Cycle In Social Systems
I encourage you to read it first.
The concept of adaptive cycles on multiple scales in systems
is called Panarchy and developed by C.S. Holling.
For more information, visit Resilience Alliance website.

4. Multiple scales
Society
Organization
Individual
Social systems exists on multiple scales.
Society, organizations, countries, teams.
Large and small.
The individual is smallest element of a system.

5. Adaptive cycles on multiple scales
Society
Organization
Individual
On all scales social systems have adaptive cycles.
Lower scales are faster than higher scales.
Even an individual has a cycle in his search for identity.

6. Summary previous presentation:
How groups adapt using identity
Bill Wine
Aficionado George
Some groups our more resilient then others.
Some groups become large and dominant, while others stay small.
For a while.
We associate ourselves with groups.
Our collection of associations is our identity.
Our decisions about our identity make or break groups.
This is largely dependent on our current sentiments.

7. Groups - adaptive cycle
Positive sentiments Negative sentiments
Cheese
Homogeneous Aficionado
groups Wine Aficionado Compliant groups
Open and Wine Aficionado
Beer Closed and collapsing
balanced Aficionado
Diverse
groups Wine Beer
Beer Deviant groups
Aficionado Aficionado
Open and Aficionado
Closed, small, multiple
attracting
Summary previous presentation.

8. Smallest element
Individual
The individual is smallest element of a system.
It has also an adaptive cycle in respect to associations.
The cycle of the mind.

9. Individual
Positive sentiments Negative sentiments
Cheese
Constructive Aficionado
focus and Wine Aficionado
Tunnel focus
emphasis on one Wine Aficionado on single identity
Beer
aspect of identity Aficionado
Considering
multiple options Wine Beer Identity crisis after
Beer
Curious about Aficionado Aficionado
Aficionado breakdown or
“self ” disappointment
Search for identity

10. Interconnectedness
Society
Organization
Individual
The scales are interconnected.
What happens on one scale can influence another scale.

11. Interconnectedness
“Finer scales can enhance resilience of the focal system
when they are allowed to change so that innovation
and novelty can be introduced, in a controlled way, into
the focal system. They can reduce the resilience of the
focal system if they are tightly linked, such that
disturbances rapidly spread from one fine-scale
component to the next.”
(focal system is the system you are looking at)
from “Assessing and managing resilience in social-ecological systems:
Volume 2 supplementary notes to the practitioners workbook”
by Resilience Alliance.

12. Remembering
Society
Organization
Individual
The higher level is “homogeneous” or “compliant” (one dominant association).
This influences a lower level in “diversity”.
The dominant association the lower level “chooses” is determined
by the dominant on the higher level.

13. Remembering - illustration
In search for a political view?
The dominant view in your social surroundings
influences your choice.

14. Revolt
Society
Organization
Individual
On a lower level new associations become dominant.
When this happens fast, often and in larger amounts
the dominant association on higher level is challenged / eroded.

15. Revolt - illustration
Critical mass.
Minority views spread fast.
When enough people hold this new and
different view, it challenges the dominant view
on the higher scale.

16. How multiple social systems
influence each other.
Large and small groups exist.
Society. Countries. Organizations. Teams.
Our decisions about our identity make or break groups.
But dominant associations in society influence our choices.
If a lot of people make the same choice, it influences society.
Social groups adapt using identity.
This is not only dependent on our current sentiments.
This is also dependent on other scales of the social system.

17. Thanks to dr Ali Anani for our
extensive discussions.
Thanks to Resilience Alliance for
providing the Panarchy concept on
their website. BasDeBaar.com