Opening and Closing: Strategies of Information Adaptation in Society (American Sociological Association Rose Monographs) - Softcover

Klapp, .

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521293111 ISBN 13: 9780521293112

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2009

Synopsis

In this original application of information theory to social analysis, Orrin Klapp examines how and why societies are producing more stress than they ever can handle. He argues that the reduction of 'social noise', the chaos from which we try to construct meaning is a major goal of individuals and groups alike. Individuals, groups, even entire societies normally cycle rhythmically between two basic modes of adaptation to the constant communication flow: opening, or scanning for desired information; and closing, or defending against noise. For example, in a society functioning in the opening mode, movements like ecumenicism and expansionism achieve momentum. Extreme reactions in either mode lead to an opposite swing, according to Professor Klapp's model. His wide-ranging conceptual scheme incorporates hypotheses about the variety and redundancy of information, as well as about human channel capacities and the need for homeostatis. His research reveals intriguing relationships among such phenomena as the concern about industrial population and the search for ethnic roots.

About this title

Product Description

Paperback. Pub date: 1978 09 Pages: 236 Publisher: Camidge. University Press In this original application of information Theory to social Analysis Orrin Klapp examines how and why societies are producing more stress than they ever can handle He Argues that the reduction of 'social noise'. the chaos from which we try to construct meaning is a major goal of individuals and groups alike. Individuals. groups. even entire societies normally cycle rhythmically between two basic modes of adaptation to the constant communication flow: opening. or scanning for desired information; and closing. or defending against noise. For example. in a society functioning in the opening mode. movements like ecumenicism and expansionism achieve momentum. Extreme reactions in either mode lead to an opposite swing. according to Professor Klapp's model. His wide-ranging conceptual scheme incorporates ...

Book Description

In this original application of information theory to social analysis, Orrin Klapp examines how and why societies are producing more stress than they ever can handle. He argues that the reduction of 'social noise', the chaos from which we try to construct meaning is a major goal of individuals and groups alike.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521293111
• ISBN 13: 9780521293112
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240