The Palgrave Handbook of Quantum Models in Social Science: Applications and Grand Challenges

It is not intuitive to accept that there exists a link between quantum
physical systems and cognitive systems. However, recent research has shown that
cognitive systems and collective (social) systems, including biology, exhibit
uncertainty which can be successfully modelled with quantum probability. The
use of such probability allows for the modelling of situations which typically
violate the laws of classical probability.

The Palgrave Handbook
of Quantum Models in Social Science is is a unique volume that brings together contributions
from leading experts on key topics in this new and emerging field. Completely self-contained,
it begins with an introductory section which gathers all the fundamental notions
required to be able to understand later chapters. The handbook then moves on to
address some of the latest research and applications for quantum methods in
social science disciplines, including economics, politics and psychology. It begins
with the issue of how the quantum mechanical framework can be applied to economics.
Chapters devoted to this topic range from how Fisher information can be argued
to play a role in economics, to the foundations and application of quantum game
theory. The handbook then progresses in considering how belief states can be
updated with the theory of quantum measurements (and also with more general
methods). The practical use of the Hilbert space (and Fock space) in decision
theory is then introduced, and open quantum systems are also considered. The
handbook also treats a model of neural oscillators that reproduces some of the
features of quantum cognition. Other contributions delve into causal reasoning
using quantum Bayes nets and the role of quantum probability in modelling so
called affective evaluation. The handbook is rounded off with two chapters
which discuss the grand challenges which lie ahead of us. How can the quantum
formalism be justified in social science and is the traditional quantum
formalism too restrictive? Finally, a question is posed: whether there is a
necessary role for quantum mathematical models to go beyond physics.

This book will bring the latest and most cutting edge research on
quantum theory to social science disciplines. Students and researchers across
the discipline, as well as those in the fields of physics and mathematics will
welcome this important addition to the literature.