| The purpose of this research was to link the theory of complex adaptive systems, with their range of behavioral states and associated tendency to self-organize and adapt, to established stress management theory, and the concept that stimulation can range from insufficient (distress), to optimal (eustress), and to excessive (distress). The hypothesized link between these literatures is the connectionist theory description of parameters that are thought to drive the energy level and activity of complex adaptive systems; this research investigates whether the existence of connectionist elements believed to create a more "stimulated" complex adaptive systems network, also create "stimulation" in the individual. Thus, this research examines the relationship between two apparently consistent but previously unconnected behavioral predictions, and tests the relationship for substance.; The test compares the number and type of communication connections that a person experiences, with the level of stimulation they feel. Three large organizations agreed to allow relatively homogeneous groups of non-traveling salaried professionals below the director level log their communications activity for a week, and then respond to survey instruments on stress and anxiety. A series of regression tests were performed on the data to determine if the relative level of connections and stimulation that are theorized to facilitate sensitive responses in a complex system, are associated with the relative level of stress and anxiety response in member of an organizational system. The results indicated that three of the four connectionist variables showed a significant relationship to a measure of stimulation. The diversity variable was related to state anxiety and the variables for rate of communications flow and density of connections were correlated with the measures stress level. Other measurements intended to correlate with anxiety or stress were not significant or counter to the prediction, including no significant relationship found for measured bias in the communications connection. Finally, none of the connectionist variables correlated with the condition of role insufficiency.; The limitations in the study methodology and the narrow set of significant results suggests that the overall results are inconclusive. Nonetheless, the theoretical linkages and empirical correlations that were uncovered are provocative and warrant further investigation. |
