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Psychology of evolutionary economic behaviour

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Abstract

We propose that a deeper integration still between psychology and evolutionary economics has value to offer by offering us a new perspective on the dynamics that underlie the behaviour that drives evolutionary change. We introduce psychological perspectives on the behaviour whereby change is originated and adopted by complex economic systems through a self-organising process of diffusion manifesting in behaviour change. We draw on cognitive, personality, affective, social and behaviourist psychology and neuroscience, and experiment with Jungian analytical psychology. We then draw these perspectives together into an integrated model of human behaviour as the outcome of psychological driving and restraining forces and indicate the importance of overcoming restraining forces relative to driving forces for behaviour change. By way of example, we show how this offers us a perspective of a new depth on the dynamics underlying self-organisation by meso-rule diffusion—a popular model of evolutionary economic change. We conclude by indicating avenues for further research in formalisation, adapting psychometric techniques and application of appreciative theory.

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  1. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Brendan Markey-Towler

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Correspondence to Brendan Markey-Towler.

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Markey-Towler, B. Psychology of evolutionary economic behaviour. Evolut Inst Econ Rev 18, 361–383 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40844-021-00209-1

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