Social Synergetics™: The Science of Human Expression
Social Synergetics™ is the application of R. Buckminster Fuller's science of Synergetics to relationships. It is the study of social complexity, of how we relate with ourselves, our environment and others. The Social Synergetics™ model for successful living integrates Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual components of human existence and a offers ground-breaking framework for lives and relationships that are vital, nourishing, creative and joyful. Synergetics is the geometrical study of whole systems discovered by R. Buckminster Fuller and developed over 50 years of study. Fuller describes synergy as "the behavior of whole systems unpredicted by behaviors of any of their components... taken separately from the whole." He says it is the consideration of "spatial complexity and as such is an inherently comprehensive discipline... a new way of approaching and solving problems."
In her book, A Fuller Explanation, Amy Edmonson says : "Synergetics, in the broadest terms, is the study of spatial complexity, and as such is an inherently comprehensive discipline... Experience with synergetics encourages a new way of approaching and solving problems. Its emphasis on visual and spatial phenomena combined with Fuller's holistic approach fosters the kind of lateral thinking which so often leads to creative breakthroughs."
Most simply put, Synergetics is the study of how nature works, of the patterns inherent in nature, the geometry of environmental forces that impact on humanity. In his thousands of lectures, Fuller urged his audiences to study synergetics, saying "I am confident that humanity's survival depends on all of our willingness to comprehend feelingly the way nature works." In the initial development of Social Synergetics™, Fuller's principles were applied to education and substance abuse treatment programs developed for the criminal justice system. These programs have, for more than 25 years, provided consistent positive results beyond those reported by other similar programs. Synergetics provides a solid scientific foundation for intuitive connections made among many traditional models of treatment, including social work in human service agencies for juveniles and adults, psychotherapy, substance abuse treatment, criminal justice administration, program planning and graduate level studies of learning theory. It is applicable to all relationships: intimate, family, community, collegial, business, etc. The model provides a context for understanding and generating relationships in which each person involved is honored as whole and complete. The discipline of Social Synergetics™ allows one to approach complex human problems with fresh insight and to develop dynamic systems that support all human beings. Research confirms that even those people formerly mired in defeat, and "destined" to spend their lives in prison and/or poverty learn skills that have resulted in measurable success in their own lives and, as a result, in the lives of their children. In his writings and lectures, Fuller also said minimum in Universe is two - in practical experience, nothing exists outside of its relationship with something else. In synergetics, this concept is expressed as a "system"; a system being defined as anything where there is an inside and outside, a "me-and-you", or anything that, by definition, is differentiated from something else. Fuller explains that the minimum "system" in Universe is the tetrahedron, a four-faced triangular shape, with six connecting vectors. It is the smallest mathematical structure comprising an "inside" and an "outside", thereby making it the minimum, and most stable, system that exists. If any one of the six vectors is removed, the tetrahedral system collapses. Both Fuller's Synergetics and Social Synergetics™, are mapped on the tetrahedron, creating a theoretical model that offers maximum stability. This is the first time that social dynamics, scientific principles and mathematics have been linked. The model offers a framework based on the physical laws of Universe, the same laws that govern change and evolution of all aspects of existence on this planet. Bucky said, "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." In the Social Synergetics™ model, we have done just this. Individuals are guided through an understanding and practical application of what is essential for them, their family, group, or organization to be stable, even in the midst of accelerating change and chaos ... all within the context of the laws of Universe. "It is not for me to change you. The question is, how can I be of service to you without diminishing your degrees of freedom?" - R. Buckminster Fuller Download Social Synergetics™ Flyer SocialSynergeticsFlyer.pdf  Adobe Acrobat Reader required to access files.
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"Synergy means behavior of integral, aggregate, whole systems unpredictable by behaviors of any of their components or subassemblies of their components taken separately from the whole." 