One of the things I’m interested in is using theories regarding complex systems to look at stories. I’ve not done too much reading on the subject so far, but came across a possible starting point today. There is a model of problem solving referred to as systems dynamics, or systems thinking, which looks at how parts of a whole interact with one another in a complex way, and try to use an almost engineering approach towards it. It seems to be especially applied to organization issues in business, etc.

One of the things I found especially interesting was the prominent use of the word archetypes in this field. The way they’re using it is to describe “systemic situations which appear frequently across disciplines”.

1. Here’s a page with a very brief intro to the idea of archetypes in systems thinking.
2. There’s also this essay, which is promisingly entitled “Archetypes: Interaction Structures of the Universe“.

More on this as I find it.