An archaeology of group dynamics
Individual people act and make decisions, yet the outcome viewed archaeologically is the aggregate of their myriad choices. This work provides a coherent and illustrated method for interpreting the observed outcome by deriving causal models based upon the dynamics of the individual behaviour in the context of the group. Drawing on multi-disciplinary theoretical and empirical input, an understanding of the expression of sociality and the social patterns which compound to the cultural environment within which people act is presented. From that understanding, the foundation of group dynamics theory is built, providing a model of social structure which defines the interaction between individual influence on cultural behaviour in the aggregate and the influence of cultural heritage on the individual's perceived range of choices. That model can be linked to an archaeological dataset, providing a 'freeze frame' view of social structure over time, at a resolution of chronological periods allowed by current understanding of the data. Given the model of social structure, predictions may be made about the individual's experience, viewpoint and biases as a result of the constraining and permitting effects of the cultural
Gregory, Katherine Mary
Archaeology
An archaeology of group dynamics. Individual people act and make decisions, yet the outcome viewed archaeologically is the aggregate of their myriad choices. This work provides a coherent and illustrated method for interpreting the observed outcome by deriving causal models based upon the dynamics of the individual behaviour in the context of the group. Drawing on multi-disciplinary theoretical and empirical input, an understanding of the expression of sociality and the social patterns which compound to the cultural environment within which people act is presented. From that understanding, the foundation of group dynamics theory is built, providing a model of social structure which defines the interaction between individual influence on cultural behaviour in the aggregate and the influence of cultural heritage on the individual's perceived range of choices. That model can be linked to an archaeological dataset, providing a 'freeze frame' view of social structure over time, at a resolution of chronological periods allowed by current understanding of the data. Given the model of social structure, predictions may be made about the individual's experience, viewpoint and biases as a result of the constraining and permitting effects of the cultural
archaeology group dynamic individual people act make_decision yet outcome view archaeologically aggregate myriad choice work provide coherent illustrate method interpret observed outcome derive causal model_base upon dynamic individual behaviour context group drawing multi_disciplinary theoretical_empirical input expression sociality social pattern compound cultural_environment within people act present foundation group dynamic theory build provide_model social_structure defines interaction individual influence cultural behaviour aggregate influence cultural_heritage individual perceive range choice model link archaeological dataset provide frame view social_structure time resolution chronological_period allow current data given model social_structure prediction may make individual_experience viewpoint bias constrain permit effect cultural