Psychology Colloquia

Abstract:: Since Ludwig von Bertalanffy's classic book "General System Theory" in 1968, there has been a dream of describing interacting systems using mathematics. In the past 30 years, the math of nonlinear difference and differential equations has been applied successfully to model very complex phenomena in biology with few parameters. The math has been popularized in chaos theory, fractals, and catastrophe theory. John Gottman and Robert Levenson (UC Berkeley) conducted multi-method longitudinal studies with couples, in some studies for as long as 18 years. Gottman and Levenson have become known for being able to predict divorce with over 90% accuracy from interviews and a 15-minute videotape of a couple's conflict discussion. This prediction has been replicated in seven longitudinal studies. This talk summarizes the results of 15 years of Gottman's work with the eminent mathematician James Murray and his students in which we created equations for a couple's interaction (heterosexual as well as gay and lesbian), self-report of affect, and physiology during a conflict discussion. The goal of the modeling was to build theory to understand the Gottman & Levenson data's ability to predict divorce. The nonlinear equations provide a new language and theoretical orientation toward interacting systems and have direct implications for clinical intervention.

For More Information About This Speaker:

http://www.gottman.com/about/john_gottman/
A brief biography of Dr. Gottman
http://www.gottman.com/
The homepage of the Gottman Institute, cofounded by Dr. Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman.
http://web.psych.washington.edu/directory/people.php?person_id=73
Dr. Gottman's faculty homepage at the University of Washington.

University of California, San Diego
Homepage Calendar Directions Past Events Psych Homepage UCSD Homepage	The Department of Psychology is Honored to Present The Norman Anderson Distinguished Speaker Series John Gottman University of Washington "The Mathematics of Relationships" Presented on June 7, 2007 Location: The Crick Conference Room Mandler Hall, room 3545 Abstract: Since Ludwig von Bertalanffy's classic book "General System Theory" in 1968, there has been a dream of describing interacting systems using mathematics. In the past 30 years, the math of nonlinear difference and differential equations has been applied successfully to model very complex phenomena in biology with few parameters. The math has been popularized in chaos theory, fractals, and catastrophe theory. John Gottman and Robert Levenson (UC Berkeley) conducted multi-method longitudinal studies with couples, in some studies for as long as 18 years. Gottman and Levenson have become known for being able to predict divorce with over 90% accuracy from interviews and a 15-minute videotape of a couple's conflict discussion. This prediction has been replicated in seven longitudinal studies. This talk summarizes the results of 15 years of Gottman's work with the eminent mathematician James Murray and his students in which we created equations for a couple's interaction (heterosexual as well as gay and lesbian), self-report of affect, and physiology during a conflict discussion. The goal of the modeling was to build theory to understand the Gottman & Levenson data's ability to predict divorce. The nonlinear equations provide a new language and theoretical orientation toward interacting systems and have direct implications for clinical intervention. For More Information About This Speaker: http://www.gottman.com/about/john_gottman/ A brief biography of Dr. Gottman http://www.gottman.com/ The homepage of the Gottman Institute, cofounded by Dr. Gottman and his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman. http://web.psych.washington.edu/directory/people.php?person_id=73 Dr. Gottman's faculty homepage at the University of Washington.
Researchers and the general public are both welcome to attend the Psychology department's colloquia. Reservations are not required, and admission is free. If you have any questions regarding the department's colloquium series, then please write to colloquia@psy.ucsd.edu