Patterns, Not Just Words: Modelling Human Behaviour as a Dynamic System

Social behaviour is often studied through words, interviews, surveys, narratives, and theory. While these approaches are essential, they do not always capture how social systems change over time or how small shifts can produce large effects. This webinar introduces a systems-based approach to understanding social behaviour by modelling human interactions as dynamic processes. Using the conceptual logic of differential equations, the session demonstrates how patterns, feedback loops, and change over time can be used to generate insight into social phenomena such as cooperation, conflict, crime, and decision-making. The focus is on interpretation rather than mathematical technique, showing how modelling can complement traditional social science methods and support the design of evidence-informed interventions.