The self as a complex dynamic system

• Authors: Sarah Mercer
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This article explores the potential offered by complexity theories for understanding language learners’ sense of self and attempts to show how the self might usefully be conceived of as a complex dynamic system. Rather than presenting empirical findings, the article discusses existent research on the self and aims at outlining a conceptual perspective that may inform future studies into the self and possibly other individual learner differences. The article concludes by critically considering the merits of a complexity perspective but also reflecting on the challenges it poses for research.

Keywords

EN

complexity theory; dynamic systems; learner differences; the self

• Publisher: Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu
• Journal: Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 57-82

Dates

cover

2011-04

Contributors

author

Sarah Mercer

Identifiers

ISSN

2083-5205

DOI

10.14746/ssllt.2011.1.1.4