ABSTRACT
Dynamical systems methods involve thinking about and modeling change in repeated observations data in such a way that deterministic relationships between the value of a variable and how rapidly it is changing can be estimated. These types of models test theories about the regularity of observed changes in such a way that independent contributions of self–regulation and exogenous influences can be differentiated. A central notion in dynamical systems is that of stable equilibrium: a particular value or set of values to which a system will return if an external influence pushes it away from that equilibrium. We illustrate some example dynamical systems models using physical analogs, discuss two specific methods for estimating model parameters, and perform an example analysis on a data set from an occasion–intensive study of bereavement in recent widows. Evidence is presented that supports a differentiation between long–term and short–term resiliency in self–regulation of an overall mental health construct in this sample of widows.
