Sociocybernetics

Sociocybernetics is an independent chapter of science in sociology based upon the general systems theory and cybernetics. Sociocybernetics is an independent chapter of science in sociology based upon the general systems theory and cybernetics. It also has a basis in organizational development (OD) consultancy practice and in theories of communication, theories of psychotherapies and computer sciences. The International Sociological Association has a specialist research committee in the area – RC51 – which publishes the (electronic) Journal of Sociocybernetics. The term 'socio' in the name of sociocybernetics refers to any social system (as defined, among others, by Talcott Parsons and Niklas Luhmann). The idea to study society as a system can be traced back to the origin of sociology when the emergent idea of functional differentiation has been applied for the first time to society by Auguste Comte.