Complexity, Walking, and Improv

I’m new to the study of Complexity Science. I’ve heard Complexity Science defined as the study of networks of adaptive agents. Ant colonies, people, organizations, and economic markets are all examples of complex systems. 

Also, I like these definitions of the features of complex systems from Karoline Wiesner on the Podcast Simplifying Complexity: The 10 features of complex systems: Part 1 and 2.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simplifying-complexity/id1651582236?i=1000613078804&r=21

10 features of complex systems

1. Numerosity: The presence of many interacting components or agents within a system.
2. Disorder and Diversity: The random behavior and variety among the components of a system, which allows for exploration and interaction.
3. Feedback: The process where the output of a system influences its own functioning, leading to adjustments and changes.
4. Non-Equilibrium: A state where a system is continuously changing rather than remaining static, often driven by external inputs or interactions.
5. Emergence: The phenomenon where larger entities or patterns arise from the interactions of smaller or simpler entities that do not exhibit those properties.
6. Spontaneous Order and Self-Organization: The process by which order and organization arise from the local interactions of components without central control.
7. Non-Linearity: Relationships within the system where outputs are not proportional to inputs, often resulting in tipping points or rapid changes.
8. Robustness: The ability of a system to remain functional despite perturbations or damage.
9. Nested Structure and Modularity: A hierarchical organization where systems consist of smaller subsystems, each serving distinct functions. Nested Strucure is hierarchical, and Modularity is functional
10. History and Memory: The capacity of a system to retain information from past states and use it to influence current behavior.

I recently played a couple “walking” Improv games that I thought really embodied a lot of the principles of complexity science indicated above.

• We all started by meandering about the space (creating the network of adaptive agents/ numerosity). 
• Then we got direction to smile and say “yes” to people in proximity and think how that made us feel (feedbackfrom agents). 
• Then we were told to make a distinctive walk (Diversity/disorder). Then to “double down” on that unique walk. 
• Then to observe others walks and incorporate one element of someone else’s walk in our own (Non-equilibrium, Emergence). 
• Lastly to all adapt to the same walk (Robustness). 

I’m new to complexity science, so maybe I’m seeing and feeling what I want to see lol. But to me there’s a connections with improvisation and complexity, especially around emergence as a core concept in both.