Social Systems Game Theory (SGT)

In a Nutshell

The Social Systems Game Theory (SGT) from Tom R. Burns defines itself in contrast to "classical" game theories.

Game theories, in general, aim to model social interaction, whereas classical game theory is applied in economics and mathematics and is used to predict the actions of other agents. To do so, game theory defines roles, rules, or strategies or different types of games (such as cooperative or non-cooperative games). Mandatory for this classical kind of modeling is the assumption that agents act in a hyper-rational way to maximize their profit.   

Burns' Social Systems Game Theory neglects this assumption by stating that agents in social interactions may also act irrationally or driven by emotion. Social interaction and games are understood as flexible, which is why SGT allows changes in the rules, roles, or aims while playing. By assuming this flexibility and irrationality, game theory develops from a model for economic decision-making to a model for the analysis of social interaction, as in clinical improvisations.  

To apply SGT, Burns provides a model that enables to analyse the process of social interaction as well as the single roles in the game - including their game model, values, options to act, and decision processes. 

Role in HIGH-M

Social Systems Game Theory (SGT) is not an integral part of the automation of Autonomy Microanalysis, but offers an extremely potent framework for formalising the Autonomy Profile gradients. 

In the course of HIGH-M's work, the situation of clinical improvisation is interpreted as a situation of playing and the resulting musical interactions as individual actions in the course of the game. Mapping improvisation to game theory not only creates a model of social reality in improvisation that relates the values and goals of client and therapist to musical options for action, but also a structural model of the course of musical interactions that is compatible with both Autonomy Microanalysis and the Music Therapy Toolbox.

The individual gradients of Autonomy Microanalysis (Dependent, Follower, Partner, Leader, Resister) are understood in this context as options for action, which are simultaneously action and reaction, as a result of intrapersonal processes. When analysing and applying SGT to analyse musical interaction in clinical settings, the focus is primarily on the "how" and not the "why", which is why HIGH-M focuses primarily on the structuring aspect of game theory.     

SGT thus forms the link between Autonomy Microanalysis and the Music Therapy Toolbox by providing a formalising language and model for musical-social interactions that can be conceptualised along the lines of musical behaviour change. 

A graphic in which numerous labelled boxes are connected with arrows. A large box in the middle, divided in two, with the headings Social Agent A and Social Agent B. Each social agent shows a smaller box, each of which is headed Role 1 or 2 (depending on the agent, the elements inside are numbered, Social Agent A is described). In the centre of these smaller boxes is DET(1,t) - around it are four other elements connected to the centre by reciprocal arrows. Clockwise, these include MODEL(1,t), VALUE(1,t), ACT (1,t) and J(1,t). The large box is connected with an arrow to "INTERACTIONS AND OUTCOMES". This is connected to the left with "PHYSICAL ECOSYSTEM, STRUCTURES. TIME, SPACE AND OTHER MATERIAL CONDITIONS", which is also linked back to the original via "SPECIFIC INTERACTION CONDITIONS". Towards the right, "INTERACTIONS AND OUTCOMES" are again linked to the large box in the middle and above "CULTURAL/INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT", which also leads to the large box.
Burns, T. R., Roszkowska, E., Machado Des Johansson, N., & Corte, U. (2018). Paradigm Shift in Game Theory Sociological Re-Conceptualization of Human Agency, Social Structure, and Agents’ Cognitive-Normative Frameworks and Action Determination Modalities. Strömstad Akademi, 25.

Literature

Burns, T. R., & Roszkowska, E. (2005). Generalized Game Theory: Assumptions, Principles, and Elaborations Grounded in Social Theory. Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric, 21(8), 7–40.

Burns, T. R., & Roszkowska, E. (2006). Social Judgement in Multi-Agent Systems. In R. Sun (Ed.), Cognition and Multi-Agent Interaction: From Cognitive Modeling to Social Simulation (1. publ). Cambridge Univ. Press.

Burns, T. R., Roszkowska, E., Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Bialystok, Corte, U., Department of Sociology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden and Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Finland, Machado, N., & Lisbon University Institute (ISCTE), Lisbon, Portugal. (2017). Sociological Game Theory: Agency, Social Structures and Interaction Processes. Optimum. Studia Ekonomiczne, 5(89), 187–199. https://doi.org/10.15290/ose.2017.05.89.13

Burns, T. R., Roszkowska, E., Machado Des Johansson, N., & Corte, U. (2018). Paradigm Shift in Game Theory Sociological Re-Conceptualization of Human Agency, Social Structure, and Agents’ Cognitive-Normative Frameworks and Action Determination Modalities. Strömstad Akademi.