Reaffirms the random and unpredictable nature of second-order changes. Sees human beings as open systems and entropy determining the irreversibility of such systems. Appreciates readers' advocacy of research to test the theory and suggests the need for practitioners and teachers to be open to change in themselves if they are to expect others to…

Presents self organization theory, which explains change in human development and behavior and which views choices and changes as being created in a state of disequilibrium. Includes background in previous developmental theory and in systems theory and explains first- and second-order change within the theory. (Author/KS)