No abstract

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to link complexity theory to the intentional change process by examining the role of emotional attraction. A research study currently underway on intentional change theory (ICT) in a healthcare context is presented.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses the concept of “attractors” from complexity theory to suggest that emotion affects the process of intentional change in different ways dependent upon whether the emotion is positive or negative. Determination of the emotion in this way proposes the existence of either a positive emotional attractor (PEA) or a negative emotional attractor (NEA). The paper discusses positive psychology's perspective on the differential impacts of positive and negative emotion. The paper also outlines an ongoing research project at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center which examines the concept of PEA and its effect on diabetes self‐management as well as its consequent role in improved health.FindingsA review of the literature and subsequent development of hypotheses and the conceptual model, indicate education for chronically ill adults must be purposeful and directed toward a self‐perceived need for personal change; include their own disease experience; allow them to become active participants in learning; and lastly, the learning process should be considerate of individual cognitive ability.Originality/valueICT could address the needs of chronically ill patients as its focus is a self‐directed journey to personal change and learning. The potential of ICT is enormous given that diabetes is a national problem that has reached epidemic proportions.

This paper is the first to empirically investigate the connections between the Big Five personality factors, ambidextrous team leadership, organisational climate of US workers that supports innovation, and individual innovative work behaviour. A self-report survey was used to obtain data from 215 team members in US-based corporations. We provide an empirically tested model of the positive influence of Openness to Experiences, Extraversion and Conscientiousness personality traits on individual innovative work behaviour. Results also confirm that supervisors’ leadership behaviours and a supportive organisational climate of innovation have a moderating influence on this set of relationships. Individuals can develop their individual innovative work behaviour. Supervisors can adopt higher levels of opening behaviours and executives can create a climate supportive of innovation to boost individual innovative work behaviour. This study further demonstrates that Big Five personality traits interact with supervisor behaviours and a supportive climate to foster individual innovative work behaviour.

No abstract

This paper examines the proposed asymmetry that should occur between resonance and dissonance in physician-patient relationships in favour of resonance to facilitate an effective relationship. Resonance is represented by the positive emotional attractor, which comprises patients' conscious preferred future or ideal self, and dissonance is expressed by the negative emotional attractor and consists of the gaps between patients' ideal and real self or their fears, problems, and shortfalls. Intentional change theory is reviewed to optimise the physician-patient relationship. Concepts from complexity theory and recent research on emotions are used to explain positive and negative emotional attractors. The role of resonance and dissonance in physician-patient relationships is discussed along with how behaviour can be changed with positive and negative emotional attractors. This paper focuses on the quality and effectiveness of physician-patient relationships for physicians who create high versus low positive emotional attractor/negative emotional attractor ratios. Two theoretical propositions are offered and the research and practice implications are explained.Keywords: asymmetry, intentional change theory, physician-patient relationships, positive and negative emotions, resonance and dissonance Declaration of interests: No confl ict of interests declaredAbstract Introduction