Ecological Thinking

So here is the core insight, in two parts:

1. In complex systems, niches exist. They are a property of the system, independent of the particular actors within the system.


2. Niches exert a constant pull on behavior; they are semi-stable attractors. If there's a niche for a particular type of behavior, and if the space is crowded enough (competition), the n

The fundamental attribution error in social psychology . This is the basic human tendency (read: bias) to explain someone's behavior as deriving from their underlying personality, rather than from their situation or role. More

Ecological thinking doesn't give the complete picture by any means. It just provides a different perspective. Sometimes the problem you're facing is one that requires story-thought (attention to the details of individuals), but sometimes it requires systems-thought. You need both weapons in your arsenal.