Cognitive theories, paradigm of quantum behavior change, and cusp catastrophe modeling in social behavioral research

Advancing social work research on human behaviors for HIV prevention and control calls for new paradigms and analytical methods to characterize the nonlinear behavioral dynamics within complex systems. However, most HIV-related behaviors cannot be adequately investigated with commonly used methods because the dynamics of HIV-related behaviors are quantum, consisting of both continuous and discrete processes. Achievements in nonlinear and discrete modeling methods—particularly cusp catastrophe modeling—enable researchers to characterize the quantum nature of these behaviors. We describe the research and developments in analyzing social behavior with conventional and new paradigms and methods, and we review cognitive and behavioral theories that provide guidance to cusp catastrophe modeling, including the dual-system theory and the construal-level theory. The latter describes concrete and context-dependent cognitive processes at low construal levels for rapid and discrete changes vs. abstract and viewpoint-dependent cognitive processes at high construal levels for gradual and continuous changes. Achievements in HIV behavior research—including the paradigm of quantum behavior change, cusp catastrophe modeling methodology, and cognitive theories—can be used to study social behaviors to advance social work research and practice.