Quantum Social Science

Aimed at economists and psychologists, as well as physicists, this book explores the exciting field of quantum social science.

Emmanuel Haven (Author), Andrei Khrennikov (Author)

9781107012820, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 January 2013

304 pages, 6 b/w illus.
24.9 x 17.5 x 2 cm, 0.68 kg

'… the text is well-written and presents all lines of thought with mathematical rigour. It features end-of-chapter references to scientific publications and a glossary to help define the terminology.' Manuel Vogel, Contemporary Physics

Written by world experts in the foundations of quantum mechanics and its applications to social science, this book shows how elementary quantum mechanical principles can be applied to decision-making paradoxes in psychology and used in modelling information in finance and economics. The book starts with a thorough overview of some of the salient differences between classical, statistical and quantum mechanics. It presents arguments on why quantum mechanics can be applied outside of physics and defines quantum social science. The issue of the existence of quantum probabilistic effects in psychology, economics and finance is addressed and basic questions and answers are provided. Aimed at researchers in economics and psychology, as well as physics, basic mathematical preliminaries and elementary concepts from quantum mechanics are defined in a self-contained way.

Preface
Part I. Physics Concepts in Social Science? A Discussion: 1. Classical, statistical and quantum mechanics: all in one
2. Econophysics: statistical physics and social science
3. Quantum social science: a non-mathematical motivation
Part II. Mathematics and Physics Preliminaries: 4. Vector calculus and other mathematical preliminaries
5. Basic elements of quantum mechanics
6. Basic elements of Bohmian mechanics
Part III. Quantum Probabilistic Effects in Psychology: Basic Questions and Answers: 7. A brief overview
8. Interference effects in psychology - an introduction
9. A quantum-like model of decision making
Part IV. Other Quantum Probabilistic Effects in Economics, Finance and Brain Sciences: 10. Financial/economic theory in crisis
11. Bohmian mechanics in finance and economics
12. The Bohm–Vigier Model and path simulation
13. Other applications to economic/financial theory
14. The neurophysiological sources of quantum-like processing in the brain
Conclusion
Glossary
Index.

Subject Areas: Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], Physics [PH], Mathematics & science [P]